Prime minister Johnson and - the man who probably wanted it more - chancellor Sunak achieved what looked like a comfortable majority in the international aid vote earlier today. It was, though, probably the closest the government will come to a defeat in this parliamentary session. Moreover, lasting damage to the reputation of the present Tory leadership will have been wrought. Not only floating voters, but also traditional Conservatives will have been appalled by the breaking of a manifesto promise, as the Liberal Democrat leadership has pointed out.
Rishi Sunak was unwise to cite the shortfall in government revenues caused by the Covid-19 emergency (which has dragged on for nearly two years) as a reason for cutting the aid budget. The billions of pounds wasted on failed schemes to achieve a quick fix, money which went largely to friends of the Tory party without the check of competitive tendering, will be fresh in the minds of many. One can be sure that memories will be refreshed by the Opposition at the appropriate time. How many aid programmes will have been enabled to continue if that money had not been wasted?
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