Foreign aid - No cuts. But a rise.
 

According to reports in the press Britain's total foreign aid budget will rise from 7 billion pounds to 11 billion pounds by 2015. Whilst at the same time at home, front-line public services are being drastically slashed.

Some countries, like Russia and China are deemed no longer poor enough to qualify for foreign aid money from Britain.

However countries like India, which funds a space programme, and Pakistan and Yemen, thought to be hotbeds of terorrist cells, will see their money from the UK increased.

Britain's foreign aid budget will increase by 4 billion pounds in the next four years.

Of course there's no way of knowing whether that is a wise use of money, as there's no way for us to check whether the money is being spent wisely, or being embezzled by dishonest officials, which we do know is the case with some financial aid sent to some African countries.

Britain cuts aid to China and Russia but we're still giving India £280m | Mail Online

Our foreign aid budget is one of the few areas protected from the savage cuts we're seeing. Unlike defence, education, the police, and cuts in jobs and services at local level, which are having to make drastic savings.

Whilst we know we have to face cuts at home, are we happy that our foreign aid budget to countries deemed less well off, are not only protected from cuts, but will have their budgets increased?

Personally I'm of the opinion that you get your own house in order, before offering to pay for your next door neighbour's new shed.

Re: Foreign aid - No cuts. But a rise.
 

At what point will Britain be deemed to qualify for foreign aid money from Russia and China? Surely it should work both ways!

Re: Foreign aid - No cuts. But a rise.
 

We paid hundreds of thousands of pounds in 'foreign aid' to Saudi Arabia in 2008!

I think the government have sorely underestimated the public mood on this one.

Yes, we all know we have bitter medicine to swallow. If the economy is to recover.

It just seems very wrong that our foreign aid budget is protected from similar spending cuts we're having to endure at home, and instead is actually having it's budget massively increased.

Re: Foreign aid - No cuts. But a rise.
 

The foreign aid budget should be fixed at a certain percentage of overall government spending. That way, if government spending goes down, it takes its fair share of the cuts.

We should only pay what we can afford to pay!

Re: Foreign aid - No cuts. But a rise.
 

It is strange isn't it? How long would it be before I was to end up in court if, instead of paying my taxes etc if I decided to give the money to a needy family either here or abroad?

I'm sure the Judge would righfully give me a darned good talking to about simple economics before passing sentence and slapping some order against any assets I may have.

Shouldn't this also apply to our Government? If we can no longer afford to fund the NHS and other services which surely is the primary duty of having a Government controlled by whichever political party, to ensure it's own citizens are protected against illness, disease & poverty before even one penny goes to other Countries, no matter how needy they may be.

:confused:

Re: Foreign aid - No cuts. But a rise.
 

Well of course this must include all the money which nationals of say Pakistan receive in hand outs whilst living in this country, okay that's tongue in check, but what really amuses me more than anything is all these so called countries (India now has its own space program) who fought so hard to gain independence from Great Britain have never stopped returning every year with the begging bowl, I heard a bit about this on TV this morning and it appears that very few people pay tax in Pakistan, well they bloody well won't do if they keep getting funded by Britain. But to be fair I wouldn't have any problem what so ever with this if there wasn't so many of the nationals from these countries already living here and becoming entitled to the benefits other people work years to attain, but of course saying things like this automatically makes me a racist, well it does in the eyes of certain broad sheet newspapers

Re: Foreign aid - No cuts. But a rise.
 

As has been mentioned in another thread, India don't won't aid from us.

http://www.accringtonweb.com/forum/846600-post7.html

Re: Foreign aid - No cuts. But a rise.
 

Ya I saw that too, but they'll do as their told you'll have this aide or else;)

Re: Foreign aid - No cuts. But a rise.
 

Or else, what?
:confused:

Re: Foreign aid - No cuts. But a rise.
 

i saw a list of countries that were going to be cut from the aid budget on the bbc website yesterday but i cant find it now.

i did notice that pakistan was missing from the list who have had way more than their fair share of aid from us and more.David cameron has borrowed money which he has given away to pakistan and india.What i dont get is why do we borrow but they get money given with no expectation of paying it back.

it just seems what cameron has done is no different than if i was to get a bank loan and give the money to charity instead of feeding my own family.It just seems stupid.

im sure previous government has borrowed and given the money away as well but this way of managing our money is even more unacceptable considering our own countries people are suffering major front line service cuts which could be funded by the billions that cameron has given away since coming into power.

screwing over our poor to fund another countries poor is wrong especialy when the other country has a space program and a nuclear ams program

Re: Foreign aid - No cuts. But a rise.
 

Like many others I believe we shouldn't be giving the money away abroad when we have so many problems at home. Every time pressure is applied to the people of UK the argument of foreign aid is always questioned by the populace but defended by the Government.

even as recently as a couple of weeks ago on question time someone again raised the issue & the defending sycophants trotted put the same tired & mundane drivel about investing in another Countries infrastructure, economy & people to better their conditions enabling them to become a first world Nation like ours !! Oh really ? Obviously these imbeciles haven't really had a good look around the UK lately.

Sickening, immoral & wrong. The UK's leaders should crawl away in shame at the injustice they've heaped on the Country!

Re: Foreign aid - No cuts. But a rise.
 

Mr Cameron was crowing yesterday that investing in foreign countries brings billions in trade and while I can go some way to understanding his point I'm afraid the wider public simply see handouts. Any business will pitch itself to a market which will buy but at the moment it is all one-way traffic, money going out and not coming in because we have nothing to sell.

To me, further handouts is a mistake and a pretty simple one at that.

Re: Foreign aid - No cuts. But a rise.
 

Can you repeat that.Dave:D:D

Re: Foreign aid - No cuts. But a rise.
 

is this the list ....

BBC News - UK 'to end direct aid to 16 countries'

Re: Foreign aid - No cuts. But a rise.
 

I know :o reported myself to get it removed, damn great sossy fingers double tapping. :D

Re: Foreign aid - No cuts. But a rise.
 

Quite simply we should not be sending money abroad in foreign aid until we can afford to. Clearly at the moment we cant, but its obviously more important for the Government to play the "big man" on the world stage & crap on us at home, hopefully people will protest about this & also about the savage cuts to the most vulnerable people here. I'm not gonna hold my breath though...perhaps forests are more important!

Best Regards - Taggy

Re: Foreign aid - No cuts. But a rise.
 

Maybe this will have us manning Manky's barracades?

Come on everybody, surely we've had enough, if we can't look after ourselves before anyone else, let's get revolting!
:cool:

Re: Foreign aid - No cuts. But a rise.
 

And this practice started on May 1st last year then;)

Re: Foreign aid - No cuts. But a rise.
 

Of course not,
but,
'let he who is without sin amongst you cast the first stone'.
or shut up.

Re: Foreign aid - No cuts. But a rise.
 

its bad enough we are the worlds softest touch and have our boarders open to anyone with a sob story and not a penny to their name but to also send them money before they step foot into our country is a new level of taking the urine

Re: Foreign aid - No cuts. But a rise.
 

I think it could be termed a preempted strike accyman:rolleyes:

Re: Foreign aid - No cuts. But a rise.
 

i dont know why the government dosnt just send them a flipping first class plane ticket here and be done with it.I have no doubt if europe said we had to it would happen :rolleyes:

Re: Foreign aid - No cuts. But a rise.
 

I bet if people were allowed a referendum, asking if we should give regular foreign aid to other countries, there'd be an overwhelming no vote.

If asked, I presume most people would say they'd prefer the choice of deciding where their charitable donations went, and to whom.

There's certainly no doubting our nation's generosity, when it comes to independently giving our money. As witnessed everytime there's a crisis, or disaster in the world. We're right up there, as one of the world's most generous nations, when it comes to sending independent donations to specific causes.

I also presume not many would object to a government pool of money, which could send financial aid to targeted disaster zones in times of emergency.

What the majority of people are sick and tired of, which politicans of all parties fail to understand, is that whilst every other budget is being cut at home, the amount we give in foreign aid is not only protected, but is to be increased.

This is aside from the fact that people are wary of regularly funding certain countries, and worry that it actually helps those who live there that are in real need. There is evidence that aid to certain African countries goes to shore up dubious political leaders, and also fund arms purchases.

There was an Indian university lecturer interviewed on the BBC news this morning. He said, like many other people he knew, that he didn't pay any tax. As the government relied on funds provided in foreign aid, and wasn't reliant on revenue raised fron taxes. Although it's growing, percentage wise India's blue and white collar class is small, though in actual numbers it's massive. Very nearly the same as the working population of the UK. I mention this only because up until now India has received massive foreign aid from the UK, despite their space, and nuclear programmes.

If we are to send regular foreign aid to various countries, at least have the decency that it should be subject to the same rate of cuts as we are experiencing domestically.

Otherwise people start thinking they are being taken for idiots, and this could lead to them seeking support from those groups who are outside the political mainstream...at present.

Re: Foreign aid - No cuts. But a rise.
 

i saw on the news that india got a £1 billion gift only last week or the week before.Not only do they have all our call center jobs and jaguar they are getting handouts as well

Re: Foreign aid - No cuts. But a rise.
 

Announced today that 11,000 servicemen and women are to be made redundant.

11,000 in armed forces get axe: RAF pilots sacked on day no-fly zone is discussed | News

Cuts 'will damage UK defence' warn ex military chiefs - Channel 4 News

Let's hope that none of the countries we give foreign aid to, rise up in the future, and attack us.

As they'd probably be the victors.

Re: Foreign aid - No cuts. But a rise.
 

Yes, and they will be able to do it with bargain bucket second hand equipment that we will sell them because we'll be having a Military 'closing down sale'.

Still, if we are conquered the national deficit will become their problem.

(There is always a bright side).
:)