David Cameron meddles in Brexit: Ex PM demands foreign aid continues to help EU exit
DAVID Cameron has stepped back into the political limelight as he insisted the UK use its foreign aid cash to help Brexit Britain.
David Cameron defends government spending on foreign aid
The former prime minister claimed the extra money could be used to ensure the UK continues to have a “massive influence” on the world after leaving the European Union (EU).
But it seems he was not suggesting Theresa May cut foreign aid spending and instead use the cash in Britain.
David Cameron claimed the foreign aid budget was one of his proudest achievements
Mr Cameron insisted there was a “moral” case for such spending - helping others less fortunate across developing nations.
However he also added the funds could help “maximise” Britain’s place on the world stage and influence the UK’s global reach.
The budget sees more than £12billion being pumped into developing countries
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The comments come after the ex-Tory leader launched his Commission on State Fragility, Growth and Development to defend the UK’s commitment to spending 0.7 per cent of national income on aid across the globe.
He said: “The reason for achieving 0.7 per cent was it was a promise the richest countries made collectively.
“There was a moral reason for doing it and moral consequence.
If you want to maximise Britain’s ability get things done in the world then your aid budget is also a massive influence budget.
“We should love our neighbours not just next door to us but also on the other side of the world.
“But also there’s a national interest.
“The consequences of state failure visit us back home.
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“If you want to maximise Britain’s ability get things done in the world then your aid budget is also a massive influence budget.”
On his last day in Number 10 last July, Mr Cameron claimed the foreign aid budget was one of his proudest achievements.
And he begged Theresa May to retain the reform - which sees more than £12billion being pumped into developing countries.
But last month, it was revealed investigations into foreign aid fraud have quadrupled in the last five years.
Cameron insisted there was a “moral” case for foreign aid
Investigations into foreign aid fraud have quadrupled in the last five years
Spending watchdog National Audit Office claimed Mr Cameron’s reforms - including ploughing billions more into overseas support and changing the way money is targeted - have increased the risk of wrongdoing.
Around 80 per cent of the aid budget in 2015, worth £9.7 billion, was spent by the Department for International Development.
The department has seen its budget rise by more than a quarter since 2011, when it spent £7.7 billion.
However the watchdog found that DfID's fraud caseload quadrupled between 2010/11 and 2015/16 to 429.
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