Stroud Liberal DemocratsThe Conservative Party appear to be tearing up their own policy on UK aid spending following comments made by the Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond on a trip to Sierra Leone.
The policy to enshrine in law the commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of the UK's national income on overseas aid was promised in both the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats 2010 general election manifestos and formed part of the Coalition Agreement.
The Conservatives agreed that the UK's commitment to meet the UN target each year should be written into law.
Philip Hammond however has now said that the law is not required because the UK is already meeting the target set out by the United Nations.
Speaking on his weekly radio show on LBC, Nick Clegg said:
"I think what is a little bizarre, to put it as diplomatically as I can, that the foreign secretary, a Conservative, should go to Sierra Leone to tear up his own manifesto. "
Liberal Democrats in government have worked to enshrine this international commitment in law, with Mike Moore tabling his Private Member's Bill on the issue. The bill will go back before the House of Commons next month.
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