FURY over the Tory government axing of aid to the world’s poorest people has prompted renewed calls for Scottish independence.
Charities say the cuts will put tens of thousands of children at risk of starvation as hunger levels rise across the globe in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
However while the UK Government has cut aid to prevent malnutrition by 70% in just three years, the Scottish Government has promised to increase its International Development Fund from £10m to £15m – and has committed to spending 0.7% of Gross National Income (GNI) on foreign aid once independent.
The SNP’s international development spokesperson Chris Law MP (below) said the “tale of two governments” proves Scotland is on a different path to the rest of the UK and needs independence to become “even more progressive and humanitarian”.
He is urging UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak to use his Autumn Budget to restore UK aid to combat hunger back to its original level by committing to an investment of £120m per year over the next five years and renewing the commitment to reach at least 50m people with nutrition specific programming by 2025.
The call comes after an Education for Development Summit, which the UK co-hosted this summer, failed to reach its target by a staggering $1billion (£727m). Rose Caldwell, chief executive of charity Plan International UK, said the UK had “failed in its duty as co-host”.
The SNP has now demanded the UK works to avoid a repeat of the failure at the Nutrition for Growth Summit, which will take place later this year. Law said Westminster should work with the hosts in Japan to see a more ambitious pledge realised.
“The UK is one of the wealthiest nations on the planet – it should start acting like one and help those who need it most,” he said.
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“Yet again, we see a tale of two governments. While the Tories at Westminster continue to slash financial support to the world’s poorest, the SNP Scottish Government plans to increase its International Development Fund to £15m, pledges a minimum of 0.7% GNI to foreign aid once independent and has just recently offered £250,000 to help the hunger crisis in South Sudan.
“That is what wealthy countries should do when the world’s poorest are battling a pandemic – the UK Government should take note.
“The Chancellor must listen to the legitimate concerns of MPs and charities alike and finally commit to investing the original £120m per year and renew its commitment to reach at least 50m people worldwide.”
Law added: “It is clear that Scotland is on a different path to the rest of the UK. Only with the full powers of independence can we achieve our full potential in bringing forward a more progressive, humanitarian Scotland to the global stage.”
Charities such as Save the Children have also called for the aid to be restored to previous levels. They say malnutrition contributes to roughly half of all child deaths and holds back children’s education and future economic potential. Pandemic related increases in malnutrition alone are expected to result in 4.4m lost years of schooling.
Kirsty McNeill, executive director of policy, advocacy and campaigns at Save the Children UK, said the UK’s strategy was “incoherent and inconsistent”.
“The Government is paying lip service to preventing famine while slashing the very programmes that will keep malnourished children alive, at a time when global hunger is increasing.
“We are looking at the near collapse of British help for hungry children in some of the world’s poorest and most dangerous countries, including Yemen, Somalia, and Sudan.
“Ending preventable child deaths will never be achieved when we ignore the role prolonged malnutrition plays in the development of a child and their future quality of life.”
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