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Conservative Party launch election manifesto

13 April 2010

The Conservative Party has launched its manifesto for the 2010 General Election. It includes a pledge to legislate to meet the international commitment to spend 0.7% of national income on aid from 2013.

The announcement is the main new commitment on international development in the document entitled ‘Invitation to join the British Government'.

The section entitled ‘One World Conservatism' states that aid should remain untied from commercial interests, should be independently evaluated, published on the Department for International Development (DFID) website and in some cases supplied only in return for development outcomes.

Clean water, sanitation, healthcare, education and property rights are highlighted as spending priorities alongside improved access for women, children and disabled people. Aid would be targeted at poorer countries, paying particular attention to the Commonwealth. Programmes in Russia and China would be ended. Some aid would be spent in association with the armed forces as part of a ‘Stabilisation and Reconstruction Force' to be deployed in countries where the UK military is involved. A small fund would be allocated according to the results of an online poll.

As part of the foreign policy section entitled ‘Promote our enlightened national interest', the Conservatives state support for humanitarian intervention "when it is practical and necessary". Under the headline ‘Building a Greener Economy' they reconfirm the aim of reducing carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2050 and pledge to work towards a global climate deal that includes adaptation funds for poor countries.

The Conservatives also promise to act on their belief in global free trade by supporting the EU's trade negotiations with other countries, pushing for an international trade deal and gradually dismantling subsidies in the EU's Common Agricultural Policy.

International Development excerpts from the Conservative Manifesto

How the parties compare to the Vote Global manifesto

More information about where the parties stand is on the Election page

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