Overseas aid; why less could be more in Spending Review – The Yorkshire Post says

He knows this move will be popular with voters in ‘blue wall’ seats, particularly those who believe ‘charity begins at home’, and will hope to see off any Commons rebellion.

And cynics will point out that the saving accrued from the Tories breaking a manifesto promise to spend 0.7 per cent of national income on overseas aid will equate to £4bn – the sum put aside for a new ‘levelling up’ fund.

But the whole debate is, in fact, far more nuanced than the tribal response to date. What the Chancellor did not say in his statement is that this is a long overdue opportunity to spend aid money far more effectively if better targeted.

One reason why there’s so much scepticism surrounding the 0.7 per cent pledge is all those examples of hard-earned money not reaching the world’s poorest and, instead, being squandered by the corrupt and largesse of others.

Equally, as Britain prepares to head the G7 and other international organisations in 2021, the Chancellor should be stressing that the Government’s obligations do, in fact, extend beyond overseas aid because Covid vaccines, if approved, will be made available to the developing world.

And if Mr Sunak made his argument along these lines, while pointing out how the enhanced defence budget will be a force for good, he might find it easier to win over his more liberal-minded opponents in the Commons – individuals in a position to criticise because they’re not having to sort out a recession like no other.

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