Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Global Poverty

I've been getting a lot of email requests asking about our policy on Global Poverty. It's great to see how many in Macclesfield are concerned about our responsibility to help those who need it even more than we do. Charity may begin at home, as the proverb says, but it mustn't stop there.

  • We will increase the aid budget to 0.7% of GDP, as agreed at Gleneagles, by 2013, and we would enshrine that figure in law.
  • Aid to mitigate the effects of climate change, would be in addition to that. It is highly unfair that developing countries should suffer (through drought and rising sea levels) the effects caused by the developed world's use of fossil fuels.
  • We will prioritise useful programs: health and education, promoting gender equality, reducing maternal and infant mortality, supplying basic needs like clean water, and curbing the spread of diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.
  • We will ban banks from handling the proceeds of corruption, and crack down on tax havens which enable large corporations to avoid payment of tax in developing countries.
  • We will push for more cancellation of unpayable debts, and ban 'vulture funds'
  • We will support a global fund for social protection to help developing countries build viable welfare systems.
  • We will support reform of the World Bank and the IMF.
The Liberal Democrats are committed towards working for a world free from poverty, inequality and injustice. It's good to see how many in Macclesfield share our commitment.