contribution by Owen Tudor

I’ve expressed scepticism before about the Government’s commitment to meet the UN target for overseas aid by 2013.

With the news that Defence Secretary Liam Fox has raised concerns about the pledge suggests that we are seeing the beginning of the end for that commitment.

Although Fox has said he is only concerned about tying the Government’s hands, that is the whole point of enshrining the commitment in law.

And it’s worth remembering that the pledge was in both the Labour and Conservative manifestoes, and was part of the coalition agreement.

The Prime Minister’s pledge that the commitment will be met rings slightly hollow – especially as time is running out for the Government to legislate in this Parliamentary session.

Is this going to be yet another broken promise to add to the list?

Reader comments

1. Liberal Conspiracy

   Will the Foreign Aid commitment be another Cameron u-turn? http://bit.ly/lrsoal

2. sunny hundal

   RT @libcon: Will the Foreign Aid commitment be another Cameron u-turn? http://bit.ly/lrsoal

3. The Bee

   RT @libcon: Will the Foreign Aid commitment be another Cameron u-turn? http://bit.ly/lrsoal

4. Richard Murphy

   RT @libcon: Will the Foreign Aid commitment be another Cameron u-turn? http://bit.ly/lrsoal

5. Brit Lefit

   Most British ppl resent AID abroad. Trade better
   RT @libcon:Will the Foreign #Aid commitment be another Cameron u-turn? http://bit.ly/lrsoal

6. Pucci Dellanno

   RT @libcon: Will the Foreign Aid commitment be another Cameron u-turn? http://bit.ly/lrsoal

7. Demands for Ken Clarke’s head over rape comments, Cameron pushes NHS reforms and an elected chamber for the Lords?: round up of political blogs for 14 May – 20 May | British Politics and Policy at LSE

   [...] ponders the political consequences of the spat and Liberal Conspiracy wonders whether this will prompt another U-turn from the PM.  David Taylor at Left Foot Forward writes an open letter to David Cameron to remind [...]