International development
Coffee House Interview: Andrew Mitchell
The government has stuck to its guns on overseas aid, promising to donate 0.7 per cent of our national income to other countries. In the Chancellor’s words, the government will… Continue reading
32 CommentsLooking behind the negative aid polls
There are, as the old adage goes, "lies, damned lies and statistics". I’m beginning to think the same about polls. Take the polls that Britons are not as keen on… Continue reading
37 CommentsTax versus philanthropy
I was on the panel of Any Questions last night in Saltaire, the most beautiful town I’ve seen outside of the Highlands. Jonathan Dimbleby always warms everyone up with a… Continue reading
29 CommentsSolving the government’s aid conundrum
Earlier this week, Jonathan Jones reported on the problems facing the government on international development spending. Their plan to increase the DFID budget is deeply unpopular. Today we’ve released a… Continue reading
22 CommentsWorld Service reprieve the latest step in FCO’s rehabilitation
The BBC World Service has been reprieved. An additional £2.2m will be spent to preserve the Arabic service, in line with some of the wishes of Foreign Affairs Select Committee… Continue reading
13 CommentsPublic opinion on international aid isn’t where Cameron thinks it is
Andrew Mitchell was recently informed that the public is split 50:50 for and against increasing the international aid budget to £12 billion in 2013. A YouGov@Cambridge poll for Politics Home… Continue reading
43 CommentsCameron’s easy ride
Having u-turned on two more policies in the last two days, one would have expected David Cameron to have a hard time today at PMQs. But he didn’t. Ed Miliband… Continue reading
24 CommentsPreparing for a post-Gaddafi Libya
The Libya intervention has been in operation for a few months and the rebels have been making gains, most recently in Yafran. But progress remains slow and perhaps it is… Continue reading
18 CommentsYemen implodes
Sometimes you wait and wait for an event, and nothing ever happens. Pakistan is always said to be teetering on the brink of collapse but never quite edges over the… Continue reading
11 CommentsSlums Are A Feature of Success
Meanwhile and continuing our population theme it may be worth spending a moment on population density in the developing world too. Commenting on this post Axstane writes: This logic tells… Continue reading
9 CommentsFox letter: storm in a fair trade, biodegradable cup
David Cameron probably let out a sigh when he was informed that yet another letter from Liam Fox had been leaked to the press. And when the Defence Secretary called… Continue reading
20 CommentsShocker! Liam Fox is Right!
This, Watson, is the salient fact to be gleaned from the stramash over International Development funding. There is nothing especially wrong with aspiring* to spend 0.7% of GDP on overseas… Continue reading
4 CommentsLeak shows that Fox objects to plans to spend more on overseas development
A second letter from the Defence Secretary to the Prime Minister has leaked out. Tomorrow’s Times reports on a note that Liam Fox sent to the Prime Minister opposing the government’s plan… Continue reading
24 CommentsLibya diary: Tobruk
Twelve different checks later and I’m in Free Libya, hurling down the road to Tobruk at 100 mph, with Arabic music blasting away. This place is firmly held rebel territory… Continue reading
10 CommentsCairo Diary: Libyan transit
The road from Cairo to Salloum, Egypt’s Wild West town on the border with Libya, stretches out into the desert until the patched-up, grey and black cement blurs into the… Continue reading
4 CommentsWar aims
A few days into the no-fly zone and the initial aim of the intervention has been achieved: Colonel Ghaddafi no longer controls his own airspace and cannot use airpower for… Continue reading
17 CommentsLabour shuns aid choices
Government is about choices. In opposition you can like anything, support any measure, back any proposal. But when in office you either make choices or invite dismissal. So when International… Continue reading
20 CommentsBrits want to give money abroad – but not necessarily via the government
"A well-targeted aid budget is essential if Britain is to punch above its weight on the world stage." That’s how Tim Montgomerie finishes his neat defence (£) of British aid… Continue reading
40 CommentsBritish foreign policy needs to promote democracy
After a week of hesitation and well-publicised problems evacuating British citizens from Libya, the government has led the international community’s response to the crisis. The decision to move HMS Cumberland… Continue reading
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