Post by Focus on Mar 20, 2013 10:06:24 GMT
THE Archbishop of York has called on Chancellor George Osborne to maintain current spending on overseas aid, saying "we have a social and moral obligation to help eradicate the unnecessary suffering of others".
Speaking ahead of today's hotly anticipated Budget statement, the archbishop Dr John Sentamu said it was a "false choice" to choose between international aid and tackling poverty in the UK.
The Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu has called on Chancellor George Osborne
The archbishop said: "Today is set to be the first Budget day where the UK government will reach its target to give 0.75% of our national income to the world's poorest and most vulnerable people.
"We have a social and moral obligation to help eradicate the unnecessary suffering of others. Besides, it makes long term economic sense to support the emerging economies of the developing world."
George Osborne, works on his budget in central London today
Dr Sentamu said: "Yes, times are hard and we are all feeling the financial squeeze but allocating just 7p out of every £10 that our Government spends to support development and relieve suffering overseas is a small slice of our national income, when compared with the spectre of people dying unnecessarily, or living without access to education or even clean water."
He said: "We shouldn't have to choose between international aid and tackling poverty in the UK. It's a false choice. "Loving our neighbor means showing love and generosity not only to the people down the road, but also to our neighbors wherever they live in the global village.
"When the poor and vulnerable are left behind then we are all worse off as a society, as a nation and as an international community."
The Archbishop of York said it was wrong to choose between foreign aid and UK poverty
Dr Sentamu also called for individuals and businesses to pay their "fair share of tax".
He said: "How can we lecture foreign governments when our own system of taxation is currently being flouted by so many companies and high earning executives who have done very well out of our country without paying their fair share back?"
The archbishop said: "The tax we contribute to the Exchequer should be a badge of honor rather than something that we are trying to hide."
Well he bloody would do wouldn't he ... someone needs to have a fcking word in his lughole and tell him that charity begins at home!! Ppffttt!!! - Fx
