The UK Government’s decision to cut £6 billion from international aid while increasing defence spending to 2.5% of GDP has sparked fierce debate in the Scottish Parliament.
Speaking during Portfolio Question Time, Maggie Chapman (Scottish Greens) criticised the move as an “outrage”, arguing that the UK has a moral responsibility to aid those affected by its colonial past. Chapman accused the government of prioritising “war over peace”, stating:
“More than 300 million people around the world are in dire humanitarian need right now. The UK’s colonial past creates a particular moral responsibility to those who are still paying the price of imperial exploitation, and we should not give money to those who profit from genocide.”
Chapman called on the Scottish Government to step up its global humanitarian commitments in response.
In contrast, Angus Robertson (SNP) took a more measured stance, welcoming the increase in defence spending but criticising the decision to cut aid to its lowest level in 25 years. He stated:
“I welcome the UK Government’s commitment to increased defence spending at a time of such acute need across Europe. Having said that, I am deeply disappointed at the cut in overseas aid.”
Robertson emphasised that the Scottish Government remains committed to supporting its international development partners through climate justice funding and humanitarian aid.
The debate highlights the political divide over the UK’s approach to balancing national security with global responsibility. While the government argues that increased defence spending is essential in a time of geopolitical instability, critics say cutting aid undermines Britain’s role as a responsible global actor.
It’s interesting that everyone goes..we welcome the increased defence spending….but and it’s this that has so damaged political discourse. If something is correct don’t lessen and remove with the..but… sometimes just sometimes hold up the good thing examine it discuss it in positive ways and allow yourself to agree..
That’s rather nice of them 😏
If it were me i would scrap all foreign aid in a heartbeat, time we told the world to take care of itself for a change and our idiots stay the hell out of it and put this country and it,s taxpayers first…
To an extent I agree. Uk needs to look after itself first, a la Trump. However, there are soft power benefits of overseas aid, not least the potential to discourage others from perceiving the UK as a land of milk and honey where once u arrive money is thrown at u. Obviously thats a hot topic atm. However, priority must always be UK defence and I’d always agree with such a reduction given the limits put in place on spending / funding the present Govt put in place with its manifesto.
Detaining and removing every illegal immigrant would dissuade them from viewing Britain as a land of milk and honey. Way cheaper than putting them in hotels or bribing them with tribute… I mean “Aid”.
Foreign aid provides very little soft power. We have been handing out aid to Africa for decades yet they are all pretty much Chinese puppets when it comes support in the UN as China invests more in return for agricultural land, minerals, oil, gas etc.
Simply handing out miniscule amounts of money because it makes British politicians and woke middle class lefties feel better about themselves is a complete waste of money. The vast majority of the money is sucked up by aid agencies and their staff rather than actually helping people which is also a major gripe. David Miliband has done very nicely for himself running charities. Ed isn’t doing to bad either with green energy side hustles. I don’t know which one I despise the most.
In many cases, aid causes more harm than good because it breeds reliance.
The USA is saying that other countries should provide for their own people. Not totally unreasonable.
I totally agree.giving aid to India!! Why
Food and shelter is what it should be used for nothing else.
Two irrelevant muppets talking about stuff they don’t understand.
It’s truly strange times when I see myself agreeing with the SNP.
Don’t forget the …’but’
They don’t
This Chapman woman has a strange perspective ie that we should give aid ‘to those who are still paying the price of imperial exploitation’. What is this exploitation? How long ago was it? Did we not invest in the Colonies? Is that not recognised?
Er… no. Britain killed quite a lot of people and nicked their stuff. Sometimes their whole country! But I don’t say ‘we’ as hardly anyone still alive was responsible for it. But a lot of people around the world are still living with the consequences. I have no truck with reparations or any of that nonsense, but denying that the Empire – like all empires, by definition – was deeply exploitative is just daft.
Yes- what did we ever do for the Empire…er, apart from the roads, the railways, modern medicine, cars, cell phones, airplanes, Big Macs, ending slavery, Johnny Walker Blue, TV, sunglasses, Rolls Royces, pain free Dentistry, chocolate raisins…
..the Corrs, Padma Lakshmi, running shoes, Irn Bru…
We give money to countries that have a space program and there people are starving and that is our responsibility… Load of crpp, penny pinching on woke conscience… Stop aid and aid more power for the defense of our land…
It’s bloody simple to me. If a change in circumstances places the country at a crossroads point in history, the government’s responsibility is to look after its own country first before looking after others.
Yes, but we can only raid the overseas aid budget once!