I was deeply concerned recently to read the Government’s Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy. While there are many positives in terms of a stated commitment to upholding human rights, conflict resolution, poverty reduction and care for the environment, these commitments become empty rhetoric when held up against the stark reality of the government investing further in weapons of mass destruction while at the same time cutting back on its foreign aid spending.
The decision to raise the cap on the stockpile of nuclear warheads to 260 reverses all the progress that has been made over the past decades. This is in direct contravention of the UK’s commitments under the Non-Proliferation Treaty and ignores the more recent UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Increasing the UK’s stockpile of nuclear weapons will do nothing to protect our citizens; it will make the world a more dangerous place for all; and it is an enormous and unaffordable waste of tax-payers’ money.
It is particularly galling that the government should make such a commitment while simultaneously cutting the aid budget and offering to return to its commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of gross national income on development ‘when the fiscal situation allows’.
How is it possible that the fiscal situation can allow for the investment of a £24bn increase in military spending over the next four years, and yet cut the foreign aid budget from £15bn to £10bn over the next two years?