News / MP backs international aid
NORTHERN Isles MP Alistair Carmichael has highlighted the “enormous amount of difference” made by international aid after voting in favour of a bill to enshrine in law Britain’s commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of national income on overseas assistance.
Carmichael said he had to cancel constituency business to attend and vote in favour of Lib Dem colleague Michael Moore’s private members’ bill at Westminster on Friday.
He said: “The UK has shown great leadership in ensuring that 0.7 per cent of our national income goes to international aid. We are the first G20 country to keep our promise on aid and have pressed other con tries to live up to their commitments.
“I personally believe that this is an incredibly important issue for the UK and it is unfortunate that I had to cancel constituency business, including visits to local schools, but I felt that the issue debated today was of such importance that it required my attendance.”
Some MPs were called back to parliament amid attempts by a handful of Tory members to wreck the bill by making it run out of parliamentary time.
Carmichael, who as Scottish Secretary of State is a member of the Tory-Lib Dem cabinet, added: “We cannot afford to rest on our laurels when it comes to helping the poorest people in the world and that’s why I strongly support Michael Moore’s bill and am delighted to see it passed.”
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