Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown has urged richer countries to do more to help immunize the whole world, saying it is a “who lives and who dies” decision.
Speaking to Sky News, the former Labor leader called on leaders of the G7 countries, which are due to meet in Cornwall this weekend, to provide the money to pay for vaccinations around the world.
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Mr Brown, a prominent anti-poverty activist, added that it is clear that “we are not safe until everyone is safe” and also urged Prime Minister Boris Johnson to cancel the government’s proposed reduction in foreign aid.
It comes as Conservative Party MPs hope to force Mr Johnson to reverse cuts to foreign aid budget in a vote this afternoon.
Thirty Tories, including former Prime Minister Theresa May and four former ministers, are backing a rebellion against the £ 4bn cut.
Mr Brown said: “It’s pretty clear that we need to vaccinate the world. We’re not safe until everyone is safe, like I said.
“And it’s an act of personal interest, it’s not just an act of charity, because if the disease spreads and mutates and comes back to our country via India, Nepal or Africa, then we let’s all suffer from it.
“So this is something the world has to do together and that is why on Friday when Boris Johnson meets the G7 in Cornwall they have the chance – the richest countries sitting around the table – they have the chance to make a decision that will immunize the whole world by putting the money to pay for it, and sharing the doses that are in excess in the UK. “
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus previously said there was a “shocking imbalance” in global vaccine distribution
Mr Brown said the situation “needs a plan, not just a wing and a prayer” and said the remaining vaccine doses were “a good …
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Source: news.sky.com
This notice was published: 2021-06-07 07:38:00
