Stamping down: David Cameron will cut aid to nations with poor gay-rights
David Cameron has pledged to slash aid to African countries with poor records on homosexual rights.
The Prime Minister will tell struggling nations they will receive funding ‘fines’ if persecution of gays continues.
The Government has already cut aid to Malawi by £19million after two gay men were sentenced to 14 years hard labour. The southern African nation also plans to bring in tough anti-lesbian laws.
Malawi has received £200million from Britain over the past three years. International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell could also reduce aid to Uganda and Ghana unless they drop laws against gays.
Uganda, which is due to receive £70million in 2011, plans to punish homosexuality with the death penalty.
The president of Ghana, which gets £36million a year, has promised to bring in measures to ‘check the menace of homosexuality’.
However, no mention has been made of cutting aid to Zimbabwe, which got £69million last year. Gays there still face persecution from security forces. In May, Malawi's first openly gay couple, Steven Monjeza, 26, and Tiwonge Chimbalanga, 20, were jailed for 14 years. They had been arrested after holding an engagement ceremony in December.
Just days ago, Mr Cameron told the Conservative Party conference that it was right to legalise gay marriage.
A spokesman for Mr Mitchell said: ‘The Government is committed to combating violence and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in all circumstances, in this country and abroad. We take action where we have concerns.
‘We only provide aid directly to governments when we are satisfied that they share our commitments to reduce poverty and respect human rights.’
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