We should return to a compassionate approach to international aid and migration at the next election
In a Conservative party manifesto, the primary component should be a clear plan to deal with the economy and fiscal situation as we recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. This should outline a path to clean and sustainable growth that helps businesses and works for everyone. Following on from previous manifesto commitments, I would like to once again commit to spending 0.7 per cent of Gross National Income on overseas development. UK aid funds vital international charities and development programmes to help those in poverty and to ensure standards of education, health and hygiene. Many of the countries who receive UK aid have been hit hardest by the pandemic and will continue to see the effects of such for a longer period of time. It is therefore crucial for us to continue providing assistance to those truly in need.
Another core focus of a manifesto should be a plan to deal with the migrant issue, specifically one with an emphasis on safe and legal routes to migration. As co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery, we have taken evidence from a range of stakeholders including the independent anti-slavery commissioner and representatives from law enforcement agencies. The conclusion of these consultations is that the muscular solution to people arriving illegally – that is the threat of being denied entry – needs to be partnered with a compassionate approach, namely the emphasis on safe and legal routes of migration. And of course, overseas aid and working with partners are key to solving this problem globally.
My constituency depends on tourism for economic growth. We saw a rise in demand for domestic holidays during the pandemic and so policies to encourage future tourism are key. However, these policies need to detail solutions to problems such as traffic, litter and preservation of natural spaces. Linked with this, the manifesto would include a commitment, under the Department for Transport’s Restoring Your Railway Fund, to reopen the Leek-Stoke railway line, to enable visitors or local people to get to and from the Staffordshire Moorlands.