Karren Brady hits out at aid spending on ‘far-flung conflicts’

KARREN BRADY has hit out at the “unjustifiable” £14bn spent on “illthought-out and poorly executed” UK aid policy.

The Conservative peer criticised the “arbitrary” target to spend 0.7% of national income each year on aid, particularly given that the UK pays billions of pounds each year servicing the national debt.

The Apprentice star and entrepreneur also said it is “impossible to justify” spending taxpayers’ cash on “far-flung conflicts” where it is difficult to identify their impact or relevance to the UK.

Instead UK aid cash should be used to boost defence spending to hit the 2% Nato target and the British aim must be to “secure the peace” and protect citizens in conflict zones, Baroness Brady said.

The peer suggested infrastructure development and supporting a path to democracy in these countries would be done by others.

Lady Brady’s remarks came during the annual Lords debate led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, which this year focused on the role of reconciliation in British foreign, defence and international development policy.

Lady Brady said reconciliation is a “necessary condition” for lasting peace, stability and prosperity, adding it will also help meet the ambitious targets set by the United Nations via its sustainable development goals.

But she told the Lords: “Whilst this country – global in outlook as it is – will surely play a role in helping meet those UN goals, the central point I want to make today is that the role is a narrow one and that reconciliation is unlikely to be part of it.”

Lady Brady said she could see a role for faith-based organisations during and after conflict, given that the rule of law may have broken down.