Labour's developed a real reputation for flip-flopping on policy lately, and this is surely to its detriment....
Take the latest foreign aid issue. The latests policy decision is to dropping aid from 0.5% to 0.3% of national income and this is going to have huge implications. It will mean fewer vaccines, less basic healthcare, and basically less help for those most in need.
Even more striking is what it says about Labour’s values. Not so long ago even the Conservative, under Cameron, were backing a 0.7% Aid contribution, and today Labour is halving that!
The rational is that the economy is going through an extended rough patch. Pressure at home keeps piling up, and something’s got to give. Aid is the easy option to cut - people aren't going to complain like they would if you were targeting the NHS or pensions.
But there’s a louder criticism growing. Labour keeps changing course. Support something, then back away. It makes you wonder what they actually stand for. For a party that wants to look “reliable” compared to the Conservatives, this isn’t helping.
Cutting aid really feels like a very long way from Labour's roots. Is winning the next election all that matters now?
And an own-goal - foreign aid isn’t just about being generous. It’s how Britain builds influence, keeps things stable abroad, and that can reduce that tricky issue of migration!
Final Thoughts...
Cutting aid just feels like a massive own-goal, both in terms of winning the next election, not so much because of the issue, but because it shows voters that Labour have no core identity any more, and in terms of us losing even more influence abroad....
Oh the thankless task of being in government!