Cardinal Nichols: Cutting oversea aid is a retrograde step

Cardinal Nichols

Source: CCN

Cardinal Vincent Nichols has written to the UK government expressing his concern at plans to reduce UK spending on overseas aid from 0.7% of gross national income to 0.5%. In today's figures that amounts to a cut of around £4 billion in spending on help to the world's poorest people.

The Cardinal writes: "A clear measure of a nation's greatness is the manner in which it responds to the needs of its poorest. The same is true for the response to poverty between nations. If we truly wish to be a great nation, then cutting the overseas aid budget is a retrograde step. The great tragedies of forced mass migration and human trafficking must be tackled at their source. Carefully targeted and well managed overseas aid programmes are an essential part of this effort. In the face of these catastrophes, this is no time to reduce the UK's contribution or effort.

"As Pope Francis said recently, 'Poverty, decadence and suffering in one part of the earth are a silent breeding ground for problems that will end up affecting the entire planet. If we are troubled by the extinction of certain species, we should be all the more troubled that in some parts of our world individuals or peoples are prevented from developing their potential and beauty by poverty or other structural limitations. In the end, this will impoverish us all'. 1. Pope Francis Fratelli Tutti (2020, para 137)

"Promises were made by all parties on aid spending at the last election. In these extraordinarily difficult times, we should not now step back from our responsibilities to the world's most vulnerable people, especially as combatting the spread of Covid-19 will necessarily mean richer countries supporting poorer ones in purchasing vaccines for their people and helping to roll out mass vaccination programmes. Combatting COVID-19 is an international endeavour and we cannot neglect those countries that benefit from our aid. I hope that compassionate and wise counsel will prevail.

"I realise the pressures which those holding elected office face in these times. Thank you for what you do and you remain in my prayers."