This petition was submitted during the 2010-2015 parliament
Rejected petition Reduce the overseas aid budget
More details
The government has ring-fenced overseas aid at a time when other departmental budgets are being cut, and ordinary people are facing hardship. There is no virtue in handing over huge sums of money in the hope it will do some good in the world. DFID's mission "to reduce poverty" is idealistic.
DFID should instead fund UK companies to improve the infrastructure of recipient countries, thereby creating jobs and real wealth both in (say) Africa and in the UK. In return the UK should get mineral rights where applicable. The thrust of our aid programme should be businesslike with an element of self-interest.
This petition was rejected
Why was this petition rejected?
There’s already a petition about this issue. We cannot accept a new petition when we already have one about a very similar issue.
You are more likely to get action on this issue if you sign and share a single petition.
We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards.