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If India give France the Aircraft Contract then we should stop their 1.3 Billion Aid!!

It is ludicrous that India are contemplating awarding this very large contract to France when our aircraft is far superior, we continue to give India 1.3 Billion Pounds in Aid  to which I totally disagree with,why? because the people of India do not benefit and India have a Space Programme.That 1.3 Billion would do so much more left in our coffers.

Dawn Hardy ● 4937d30 Comments

They probably fund other guests within there country already with our money!!

Dawn Hardy ● 4934d

Those shifty persons, terrorists have enough armaments as it is, they also have Carte Blanche in Pakistan!!!

Dawn Hardy ● 4934d

Yeah Phil. Maybe they could use the money we give them in aid to buy them from us.

Keith Iddon ● 4935d

Well then if our plane is superior to the French one maybe we should be touting it in Pakistan?

Phil Andrews ● 4935d

I'm on my best behaviour Keith,glad you liked it.

Dawn Hardy ● 4935d

That is why!

Dawn Hardy ● 4935d

I am assuming the pun was intended Dawn.My Nan would roll up at that one...

Keith Iddon ● 4935d

Thrn let us put that money into our own infrastructure.

Dawn Hardy ● 4935d

As a Nation we should not buy favour and I really do not believe that the Aid that has been given in the past or even now is to curry favour.The point that I attempted to make was that funds given to countries to help and feed the populace does not in fact get to them but invariably ends up in politicians pockets or for Armaments. Why for instance do we continue to give aid to India when they can afford their own Space Program.We in the UK cannot even afford to continue to have our own Armed Forces which make us all the more vulnerable,for goodness sake we no longer have an Aircraft Carrier, if this is to make us more dependent upon France then forget it. In life the UK can only depend upon ourselves!!!

Dawn Hardy ● 4935d

It's a no brainer really...We give aid to a 'poor' country.'Poor'country spends n billion on fighter aircraft.Go figure...

Keith Iddon ● 4935d

For once I agree with dawn aid for a country engaged in a space programme, Aid for a country putting a massive aircraft carrier on the high seas and spending millions more on aircraft.  We can't afford to do any of these things and we are still giving them aid.  I wouldn't mind if I believed the poor of India ever saw any of the cash but I very much doubt they do!

Philip Walsh ● 4935d

our aircraft is european.India had the option of buying aircraft from five different countries.But why do India need the aircraft anyway,their only enemy is Pakistan.

Robert A Field ● 4935d

You're right Claire.It is wrong to go about things in this way, especially when its frog's backs that get scratched.

Keith Iddon ● 4935d

I posted it and it's all about you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours with these things. As has been said, India does not need 'aid' and any aid paid rarely goes to the people needing it. It's nothing more than legal bribery.

Claire Peleschka ● 4935d

Didn't post that Alan.I'm speaking for myself but what else are the government trying to do than to win such contracts? India does not need our money,it is counterproductive to development.

Keith Iddon ● 4935d

I clearly got confused by posts like "More fool us (or Cameron) for trying to buy favours from Nations"

Alan Clark ● 4935d

No Alan I am not saying anything about linking aid to defense spending.The Government might be saying it behind its hand but but not I. I am saying that we should not be giving aid to countries like India for the reasons I,along with 2 of the 3 contributors on Newsnight and Nelson Mandela, have highlighted.Clear now?

Keith Iddon ● 4936d

What on earth are you talking about?

Dawn Hardy ● 4936d

That is wishful thinking although it should happen, will it of course not, shameful that's what it is.

Dawn Hardy ● 4936d

They were cheaper however not as good as ours.

Dawn Hardy ● 4936d

Thanks Keith.

Dawn Hardy ● 4936d

I think and have said that Aid should be stopped to other Countries after all who really benefits not the people that's a fact, it is the Politicians in those countries. Quite frankly if we have to buy their favour, they can stick it where the sun doesn't shine.We are giving away approx.18.5 Billion a year in Aid, that is money that we need, Charity should begin at home, how much do France,Germany and the rest of Europe give in Aid-Zero that's what!!!

Dawn Hardy ● 4936d

Whoa people. Are you all really saying that the only purpose of giving aid is to secure defense contracts? How sick are you lot?Or perhaps you want to extend this idea. Lets only give aid to drought ridden regions or flooded countries when they sign a memorandum of understanding that they will, in the future, buy lots of weapons from us. And let's only give winter fuel heating help to the aged if they commit to each buying a UK made hand grenade. And lets team up with Save the Children to make sure that every child helped will, when they grow up, buy at least one decent, made in Britain rifle. This could really be the start of a major boost to our defense industry.

Alan Clark ● 4936d

If you look at the specs for the aircraft they are getting a lot less of a product too.Maybe we can target the aid money at people who really need it now.Like our pensioners or those unfortunate enough to live in a care home.

Keith Iddon ● 4936d

had a lot to do with the french aircraft being a lot less than ours

Robert A Field ● 4936d

Interesting debate on Newsnight last night and it was muted that aid to many countries helps to perpetuate(sp?)poverty and inequality as government budgets are reduced to factor in aid and corruption creams most of it off.A chap in India reckoned that 15% gets through to the needy.It's ludicrous that we give aid to India.It has it's own aid programme where it gives to othe rcountries.It is a patronising and outdated idea and a hang over from empitre imo.Nelson Mandela has been saying this for several years now.

Keith Iddon ● 4936d

France give about 15th of what we give,£18m.

Keith Iddon ● 4936d

More fool us (or Cameron) for trying to buy favours from Nations that think we're a bunch of spanners. Who is the fool? The fool, or the fool that follows the fool? Dawn. Over to you.

Claire Peleschka ● 4936d

Absolutely zilch!!!

Dawn Hardy ● 4937d

wonder how much France gives in aid?

Patricia Nicholas ● 4937d