International development
Andrew Mitchell, friend of the civil service
Tensions between some ministers and the civil service are at boiling point, with vicious briefings taking place on both sides. Seemingly keen to keep the pen-pushers sweet, former Chief Whip… Continue reading
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The Miracle of Globalisation: Most of the World has Never Had It So Good
Could life in Bangladesh be better? Of course it could. Is life in Bangladesh getting better? Of course it is. The horrific death toll after a factory building collapsed in… Continue reading
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What’s wrong with foreign aid?
Justine Greening is a robust politician and bean counter who reportedly used extremely fruity language when told she was being reshuffled to the International Development Department. Even though the new… Continue reading
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Andrew Mitchell: ‘Rogue minister’ claims on Rwanda aid ‘offensive’
Andrew Mitchell emerged from his post-resignation exile on the backbenches this morning to defend his decision to sign off on a £16 million aid cheque to Rwanda on his last… Continue reading
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The UK pays salaries to terrorists
Why are UK taxpayers paying salaries to terrorists? The answer, as I explain in this morning’s Wall Street Journal, is Alan Duncan. The International Development Minister has been told repeatedly… Continue reading
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Justine Greening is a reluctant contestant on Mitchell’s Millions
The reshuffle allowed David Cameron to place what many ministers (and sacked ministers in particular) are calling ‘Osborne’s spies’ in each government department to help the Chancellor rein in spending.… Continue reading
30 Comments Justine Greening may not play the game of Mitchell’s Millions
Sending an ex-accountant to run the International Development department was always a bit of a risk, given that its remit – to spend as much as it can – inverts… Continue reading
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Stop funding Argentina
One of the justifications for Britain’s large, and rapidly growing, international development budget is that it promotes our national interests. Politicians are wary of appealing to a public sceptical of… Continue reading
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Do we really need the upcoming G20?
We’re all familiar with the eurozone boom-bust news cycle by now. First, there are reports of more European banks in trouble, then news of governments seeking bailouts, closely followed by… Continue reading
14 CommentsThree Cheers for Canada
And for Honduras too. Ottawa and Tegucicalpa are considering founding a Charter City in Honduras. As Paul Romer – the NYU professor at the head of the Charter City movement… Continue reading
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Fox fires a shot across the aid budget’s bows
As Pete says, Liam Fox’s piece this morning calling for more supply-side reform is broadly helpful to the Chancellor and has been written with his approval. Strikingly, the former defence… Continue reading
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Storm in an Indian teacup
So, does India want the UK’s aid or not? If you believe the Indian finance minister, Pranab Mukherjee, the funds are unnecessary, ‘peanuts’ even. The Daily Telegraph reports that British… Continue reading
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Moving on up
If Muhammad won’t come to the mountain, the mountain must come to Muhammad. Or so goes a saying popularised by Francis Bacon. It seems Andrew Mitchell, the Development Secretary, has… Continue reading
13 CommentsDebate report: Britain must cut its overseas aid budget now
Last night, as we mentioned yesterday and the day before, was The Spectator’s debate on whether Britain should cut its overseas aid budget. Here, for CoffeeHousers who couldn’t attend the… Continue reading
26 CommentsRight to reply: Aid is one of the government’s greatest endeavours
Peter Kellner recently explained that the BBC licence fee becomes less popular if you describe it as an annual cost rather than as a daily cost. When people are told… Continue reading
36 CommentsRight to reply: The aid debate we need to have
As Fraser pointed out yesterday, the Spectator’s debate on international aid is tonight (all CoffeeHousers welcome, tickets available here). To further set the stage for that debate, here’s a response… Continue reading
14 CommentsInternational aid in the dock
The pledge to almost double Britain’s international aid budget was made in the boom years, when the government actually had money. In the bust, there is something deeply strange —… Continue reading
20 CommentsShould most orphanages be shut down?
The Spectator’s deputy editor, Mary Wakefield, recently visited Rwanda to investigate the work a charity called Hope and Homes for Children. Her article on the subject appeared in last week’s… Continue reading
3 CommentsDuncan of Benghazi
Junior ministers rarely get to influence high-level policy or be seen publicly to have done so. So Development Minister Alan Duncan must feel particularly pleased that his brainchild, the so-called… Continue reading
18 CommentsMitchell rejects allegation that UK aid is going to Islamists
Yesterday, Andrew Mitchell was the toast of the broadcasters. They have turned on him to an extent today. The news that portions of the £52.25 million given in emergency aid… Continue reading
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