Responding to UKIP’s election manifesto, which includes a pledge to cut overseas aid, anti-poverty group ONE highlighted findings which suggest the British public firmly believe that the UK must keep its promises to the world’s poorest.

Diane Sheard, UK Director of ONE, said: “We think UKIP is out of touch with the British people on this.  Three quarters (77%) of the public agree that MPs should ensure the UK keeps its promises to the world’s poorest, which includes our commitment to investing 0.7 per cent of national income in overseas aid.

“UK aid saves lives. The real task for whoever forms the next government is making aid do even more for those who have least, not cutting it and condemning millions to live in extreme poverty for another generation.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

1. ONE commissioned ComRes to conduct a poll around aid. They interviewed 2,004 British adults by telephone between the 20^th and 22^nd March 2015. Data were weighted to be representative of all British adults aged 18+. 
2. To find out more about the ‘Just Say Yes’ campaign and how you can get involved in the fight against extreme poverty.
3. ONE is calling for at least half of all aid to be invested in the least developed countries (LDCs) by 2020.