The great aid debate: Should charity start at home?

Hosted by the TaxPayers’ Alliance and the Coalition for Global Prosperity

Tuesday, 3rd October | 11.30am – 12.30pm

With government budgets under pressure, should the UK be looking to restore its foreign aid spending to 0.7 per cent of GNI? Does overseas aid and development represent value for money or are there more deserving causes here at home? Join the TPA and Coalition for Global Prosperity as we try to answer these questions and more.

Speakers:

John O’Connell, Chief executive, TaxPayers’ Alliance (Chair)

Latika Bourke, Journalist, Sydney Morning Herald

Latika is an Australian author and journalist. She writes for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, and in the past has worked for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and 2UE. Her book From India with Love was published in 2015.

Emily Carver, Presenter, GB News

Emily is a presenter for GB News. Emily attended the University of Bristol and previously headed up the communications department at the Institute of Economic Affairs. She regularly appears as a guest on topical programmes and has written for the Daily Telegraph, Independent, Conservative Home, and CapX.

Ryan Henson, Chief executive officer, Coalition for Global Prosperity

Ryan is Chief Executive Officer at the Coalition for Global Prosperity, working to ensure the UK remains at the forefront of saving lives, alleviating poverty, and bringing freedom, security and prosperity to those who need it most. Ryan has a background in international development, social mobility, and political campaigns. Prior to joining the Coalition, he worked for the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, and on human rights policy at the Ministry of Justice. In 2022 Ryan was appointed by the Government to serve as a Social Mobility Commissioner. Ryan serves as a Reservist in the Royal Air Force, has guest lectured at the University of Hertfordshire, and is a founding trustee of a social mobility charity. Ryan holds a first-class BA in History, and an MA in Modern and Contemporary British History, awarded via full academic scholarship, both from Queen Mary, University of London. An Aspen UK Rising Leaders Fellow, Ryan was the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for Bedford at the 2019 General Election.

Tom Hunt MP

Tom has been the member of parliament for Ipswich since 2019. Tom attended the universities of Manchester and Oxford before serving as chief of staff to the elected Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.