China aid is madness

CHINA is a military superpower with a vast space programme. Its economy recently eclipsed the US as the world’s largest and is expected to grow at around 6.5 per cent next year. Its aid budget is estimated at £2billion a year.

So what possible justification is there for taxpayers’ money to be spent in a country with more than enough means to help its own poorest?

To bureaucrats used to doling out billions from the ever-expanding foreign aid budget, £46.9million – the most recent annual total – may seem like small beer.

But this is not a piddling sum to public services such as the NHS which are crying out for cash, and at a time when the budget deficit is still some £42billion a year.

Nearly eight years ago ministers declared that aid spending to China was ‘just not justifiable’ and pledged to turn off the taps, yet still it continues. Indeed, the most recent figures show year-on-year spending actually rose by £2.6million.

None of this is the fault of International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt, who has pledged to stop aid to countries which ‘should be putting their hands in their pockets’. That is a fine principle which the Mail applauds, and looks forward to seeing in action. CONGRATULATIONS to Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson and partner Jen Wilson on the news that they are expecting a baby. Colour-coding the nursery based on a child’s sex may be old hat these days, but – boy or girl – this youngster’s home will, we suspect, be true blue!