Even in the downturn, we should still talk about Africa

By Joe Powell

It is tempting to think that in times of recession Labour’s commitment to international development should be downplayed. Focus is rightly on securing domestic jobs, ensuring people stay in their homes and providing help to small businesses and the financial sector.

However, it would be a mistake to begin ignoring Africa after the huge strides Labour have made in the past 12 years. It would be similarly injudicious to accept that international development is now a cosy bi-partisan issue. All evidence suggests that Conservative governments have been less kind to the cause. Major’s administration is infamous for the Pergau Dam scandal, in which aid was promised to Malaysia in return for an arms contract. Overall the Thatcher-Major years saw a fall in official development assistance from 0.5% of GNI in 1979 to 0.26% in 1997. 1979 also marked the abolition of the Ministry for Overseas Development, with the portfolio subsumed into the Foreign Office. The message was clear: foreign aid will be used to further British interests and not those of the bottom billion.

In contrast, Clare Short made ‘tied aid’ illegal and, crucially, the Department for International Development was set-up free of the Foreign Office. It has gone on to become one of the world’s most respected development agencies and has led the effort to refocus our aid spending on poverty elimination. As a result more of Britain’s overseas development assistance is going to Africa than ever before. This should be a source of pride for Labour politicians and activists, who must not be afraid of telling their constituents the difference we have made and will continue to make. Andrew Mitchell may have tried to drag his party kicking and screaming to the centre ground on the issue, but does anyone truly believe that the phalanx of right-wing MPs behind him will not influence the character and content of a Tory development policy?

It is, therefore, my plea that we on the left continue to talk about Africa as a political issue. This includes maintaining innovation and debate in international development policy. The new focus on harnessing the power of business for development, for example, is welcome. The single most effective method of poverty alleviation is, after all, to get someone a job. As such I would like to see DFID more actively engaged with the banks, encouraging them to invest in African entrepreneurs, and, if necessary, underwriting some of the risk. In terms of trade-led development, DFID should also not be scared of taking the lead in fighting EU protectionism, which continues to hurt African farmers.

Africa will never be an election deciding issue but focus on the continent is perhaps Labour’s greatest international achievement, not only in terms of DFID’s work, but also the successful intervention in Sierra Leone. It would be a travesty if the last 12 years of foreign policy were remembered only for the mistakes made in Iraq.

In short, there can be no greater progressive cause than helping the very poorest in our global society. Thankfully people in Britain will always care about these issues. We should not forget it.