Global Poverty Promise
The Labour Party has launched the Global Poverty Promise campaign, pushing for ambitious spending targets for international aid, enshrined in law.
The video above, which includes messages from Annie Lennox, Mariella Frostrup and Davina McCall, highlights the significance of this aim.
Under Labour, Britain has tripled its international aid budget, and has committed to increase spending to 0.7% of Gross National Income by 2013. And Labour will go further by putting into law Britain’s commitment to international aid, ensuring that UN aid targets are met and that we never turn our back on the world’s poor.
International aid has made a real difference in developing countries: more than four million people now receive treatment for HIV and AIDS, and by 2015, 500 million children will have been vaccinated against mortal diseases in immunization programmes in 70 of the world’s poorest countries.
Despite billions being spent to provide medicines and build schools in developing countries, the Conservatives have failed match Labour’s pledge.
Speaking about the campaign, Secretary of State for International Development, Douglas Alexander, said:
“The Labour Government will not turn our back on the world’s poor who have been hit hard by the economic downturn. We have kept the promises we made at Gleneagles and we will go even further by enshrining in law our commitment to spend 0.7% of our Gross National Income on aid from 2013.
“Labour’s commitment to international development is clear, but the Tories’ is not. David Cameron refuses to match Labour’s commitment to bring in the new aid law and his Tory candidates do not prioritise protecting the international development budget from cuts.”
Follow these links to find out more and make the Global Poverty Promise.
