Monday 17 November 2014

As Somerset faces new floods, we're set to pay £600m for Third World flood defences... Tory MPs fury at new aid giveaway

Daily Mail

  • David Cameron to offer more financial help to flood-prone countries 
  • Water has already been seen rising again on the Somerset Levels 
  • Area was submerged in water earlier this year after failure to dredge rivers
  • MPs said sending money abroad 'did not send out the right message'
But many Tory MPs believe voters are sick of seeing taxpayers’ money sent abroad to tackle fashionable causes.The massive giveaway risks becoming a propaganda gift to Ukip which is confident of winning the by-election. The party has exploited public scepticism about climate change and the value of foreign aid. Some of the funding will go on flood defences amid fears that climate change will lead to more adverse weather. But Andrew Rosindell, Tory MP for Romford, said: ‘At a time when we in our own country have suffered from flooding and devastation, with potentially more to come, this doesn’t send out the right message. ‘The overwhelming mood in the country is that the first duty of government is to look after this country. It sends a confusing message to people affected by flooding here that we are spending so much on flood defences overseas rather than at home. I don’t think this will help us win the general election.’



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