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UK News

Carol singers urge MPs to commit to aid spending

The Bill is looking to enshrine in law a commitment to give 0.7 per cent of the annual budget to countries overseas who are struggling.

The Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Labour manifestos for the 2010 General Election all included the pledge but four years on and nothing has happened.

The legislation gets its third reading in the House of Commons this Friday before moving on to the Lords. However it'll only pass if enough MPs turn up to vote.

The singers from the Turn Up Save Lives campaign, which included staff from the Catholic charity Progression, adapted lyrics to the East 17 Christmas hit 'Stay Another Day' asking MPs not to 'leave it to chance' but to 'stay another day' to vote in parliament. Extra verses were also added to 'We wish you a Merry Christmas' with alternative lyrics setting figgy pudding aside and instead urging MPs to vote, saying: 'We won't go until you've promised point seven per cent!'

Progressio's Activism Officer Jenny Vaughan was one of the singers.

Speaking to Premier she explained the importance of this Bill passing: "Successfully passing this Bill does not even mean additional commitment or spending from the British government.

"We have already hit the internationally agreed 0.7 per cent target for overseas aid. What the law will do is increase the quality and predictability of our aid spending.

"Turning the 0.7 per cent aid target into law is a game-changing step that will protect the aid budget, save many lives and make an enormous difference to people living in poverty."

You can check whether or not your MP will be there on www.turnupsavelives.org.uk and you can follow the progress of the campaign and of the campaign singers on Twitter using the hashtag #turnupsavelives.

Hear Jenny Vaughan speaking to Premier's Marcus Jones here:

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