Monday’s Globalisation Institute event had Andrew Mitchell MP, the Shadow Secretary of State for International Development, speaking about trying to get African countries to be more open to trade, not just with the developed world (he said sub-Saharan Africa’s share of world trade was only 2%, or a mere 0.6% if you do not count South Africa), but also to trade more between African nations. Currently African trade tariffs are amongst the highest in the world, leading to such absurdities as African countries imposing tariffs on Tanzanian-made anti-malarial bed nets. Mitchell described these correctly as quite literally ‘killer tariffs’. So far so good.
Yet strangely the Right Honorable Member for Sutton Coldfield was also very keen to point out that taking an interest in African development is a cross party ‘British’ thing, not just a Tory thing and that his party fully supports increasing the amount of British taxpayers money the state wishes to generously give away in foreign aid to 0.7% of GDP. Why are Tories so desperate to make it clear that they represent continuity with Labour policies and sensibilities, even when addressing a room with a very high proportion of free marketeers? Mitchell was positively effervescent with enthusiasm about the stream of new and creative ideas being generated by Tory thinkers on the subject of international aid and yet I came away with the sense that this was just tantamount to saying “we have new and innovative ways to give away your tax-money and ‘engage’ with NGOs because we are just as clever as new Labour at thinking up ways to do that!”. Be still my beating heart.
In short the event did little to change my thinking about the pointlessness of Andrew Mitchell’s party. But like all GI events, the company was congenial, the champagne delightfully cold and the venue most agreeable…
Glad to see I wasn’t the only one who thought the biggest thing that annoyed Mitchell most was that he was not the one making the (same) decisions that Tone’s boys are making. Very unimpressive bloke, just another parasitic political drone.
Did you see that the bit he went on about how this was a “British” objective shared by Labour rather than a “Tory” objective was not in the written transcript of his speech that was handed out? Maybe his script writer at least was smart enough to know that would be unlikely to impress the sort of people who show up at GI events.
Thanks for giving us some indication of what actually happened at the GI event!
nice totty!
who *is* that babe?
*ahem*
i’ll get my coat.
Be interesting to see what the GI makes of the fiasco of the Doha Round, shafted by the unwillingness of various parties to deal with tariffs and farm subsidies. I increasingly think the way to go is for bi-laterial trade agreements since the WTO cannot handle the competing political/special interest agendas of all the countries concerned.
People like this MP live in a small reflective world and probably would be genuinely surprised that the centre-left orthodoxy that they think “everyone” believes is far from a consensus. He really needs to spend more time outside professional political circles.
That is a really really nice dress BTW!
Like the quote of the day above shows, Tories like Mitchell are half-right, but like you when I listen closer I get the impression I have been suckered by what is often called a bait & switch tactic.
Actually the really good thing about the photograph is that it is clear that the television behind Perry and Adriana is tuned to the cricket.
LOL! The important things in life, eh Scott!
Charles Martel: Thanks! ’tis I, one of the esteemed editors of this blog. Don’t bother with the coat, it’s hot out there! 🙂
Oh so the Conservative party man wanted even MORE government “aid” .
Perhaps I was right not to go. Reading the quote in the other post I wised I had risked the heat and air quality to make the trip to London – now I am so sure.
Well, as long as the champers was cold, it wasn’t a total loss. And Adriana looked lovely, as always.
But Perry, dude — what happened to the collar and tie?
Leave us Yanks with some illusions, willya?
As for the remarks by the Rt. Hon. Member, no surprises there.
Excluding S. Africa’s gold and Nigeria’s oil, Africa’s principal exports are a.) disease and b.) Africans, so there’s little wonder that they don’t participate in global trade.
Most of their governments are shining examples of kleptocratic socialism — hardly the best economic model for success.
Let ’em sink, say I, ad nauseam.
I usually do not ‘do’ ties… and I may well sue Steve Jobs for stealing my sartorial ‘look and feel’.
Perry – good to see collarless shirts again. I used to wear them until 1993 when I left for Asia and then found them hard to come by – how odd! I don’t think I could fit in them anymore!
I suspect now it is much easier with a more confident region happier with its own styles.
Do you think there should be absolute zero foreign aid?
or is there some circumstances you think it is a good idea?
How much roughly is 0.7 of GDP in ££?
I am very much in favour of free trade and zero aid. Impossible of course because both Europe and America have extremely protectionist policies on agriculture in place and unlikely to let go of them soon. All those French farmers will block the roads for months if they get even a sniff of liberalisation of the EU agricultural subsidies and market protectionism.
Agricultural produce is just about the only competitive comodity Africa has all aid is is a guilt assuager for the polititians (and assorted musicians) who know they cannot do any real good but happy to pass a little pocket money to ease their guilt.
Incidentally, Kim du Toit, part of africa’s disease problem stems from a totally unjustified ban by Europe and America on DDT, the only effective counter against malaria, and then hold aid or trade to ransom against the use of DDT. Thank heavens that some African countries, including South Africa are now implementing DDT in indoor residual spraying programs in spite of the threats from the UN, the EU and the US.
Of course another major african export now is arms. Whether the new and sophisticated variety from South Africa, or second hand via many a middleman in Africa. People denied free trade in an obvious first choice comodity, like agricultural produce, naturally find other markets where they can. South Africa (even though it finds with less trade barriers to Europe than the rest of Africa) finds itself being a major intermediary in the international drugs trade (maybe because of its greater access to european and american markets).
Europe and America complain bitterly about the drugs trade and fail miserably in controlling it, but they only have themselves to blame. The lack of free trade (and the sanction on drugs forcing prices higher) promotes these alternative markets. Here again we can revisit the “innocent civilians” theme. The French farmer vigorously defending his subsidies and market protection shares some guilt in the international drugs trade (or do you think that is a bit of a stretch?)
I have great respect for people who give aid to the poor (whether they give money, or their time without payment). Although I would warn anyone who wishes to help the poor to beware of the charties (many are corrupted).
As for government aid – a racket.
Lord Peter Bauer pointed this out many times (see his “Dissent on Development” and other works).
As these works were pushed strongly by the Institute of Economic Affairs (and others) there is no excuse for a man who claims to be concentrating in this field (as this Conservative party man is so claiming – by holding the post he does and making speeches) to still support government aid – let along demand that it be INCREASED.
The Conservative party man is clearly a scum bag, I am glad I did not risk a trip to the hospital (or worse) by going to hear him.
The time has come when everyone in the Conservative party should ask themselves “should I accept a postition from Mr Cameron – when doing so commits me to supporting things that are false and wicked”.
It is no good saying (as Mr David Davis does – both in relation to his position under John Major and his position under David Cameron) “I have nothing to do with this stuff”.
It is like saying “my office is a decent place, of course everyone else in the organization uses their office for child rape and human sacrifice, and this is official policy, but it does not go on in my room”.
now that i’ve calmed down a bit – ah. yes. the issue of “aid” to africa and subsidies to western agriculture.
the thing is – from a purely selfish, strategic point of view, is it not saner to have European food grown in Europe – rather than waking up one day to find that major portions of our food supply are now under the control of some dictator in the Congo?
its a difficult one – and its not easily solved by merely shouting “free trade”. there are other, political and strategic issues to consider.
a step by step process would enable true free trade between Africa and Europe to develop – a Pan African free trade zone would be an important first step.
Getting rid of the dictators and rampant corruption would be another.
ROTFLMAO! Outstanding 🙂