Post-Brexit security concerns should safeguard scandal-hit UK aid budget

The stream of stories in February 2018 of inappropriate behaviour in UK overseas aid organisations had shaken public faith in international development giants such as Oxfam and Save the Children. The scandal had also created an opportunity for British opponents of the government’s generous aid policy to go on the attack. It was no surprise, therefore, to see the UK’s aid budget commitment (to spending at least 0.7% of national income on international development) being questioned in Parliament and the media.

However, the author argued that the UK saw overseas aid as an important part of its approach to international security. With Brexit it was already feeling vulnerable enough without introducing new security worries.

Nevertheless, with Brexit set to drag further on public finances, it would take strong leadership from the UK’s foreign/security establishment to ward off the vultures circling the UK’s aid budget.

• Primary Source

United Kingdom: House of Lords: Library: Library Note LLN 2018/20 (06.02.18): Brexit: Overseas Development Assistance http://www.europeansources.info/record/brexit-overseas-development-assistance/

European Parliament: European Parliamentary Research Service: Study, April 2017: Possible impacts of Brexit on EU development and humanitarian policies http://www.europeansources.info/record/possible-impacts-of-brexit-on-eu-development-and-humanitarian-policies/

---