CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME?

THE RECENT typhoon in The Philippines was, of course, a human tragedy. However, I now find myself wondering whether I’m alone in having deep misgivings over the UK government’s response to the disaster? For instance, in this age of austerity, where did that £50 million Philippines relief package come from? Was it some kind of a conjuring trick?  Or was it carved-out of this year’s huge £10 billion overseas aid hand-out? All indications are that it was neither.

 Nor did it form part of the generosity shown by private individuals, manufacturers and other organisations who donated to the Philippines aid fund of their own free will, and all credit to them for doing so. No, that £50 million appears to have come straight from UK tax payers’ coffers, yet none of us have had a say its distribution to a land many thousands of miles away. Surely, while there are UK pensioners – and others – still going cold and hungry in their own homes this winter, the government’s primary consideration should be to put our own house in order first?