Oxfam tells party leaders not to forget world's poor in election race

Party leaders are expected to make Sunday April 18 this election campaign’s ‘World Poverty Day’ by setting out their parties’ plans to help the world’s poorest people.

Barbara Stocking, Oxfam Chief Executive, said that with the desire to focus on challenges at home, it was important that poor people around the world did not become "the forgotten faces" of the election.

“Every year, millions of children around the world die unnecessarily and 1.4 billion people – almost triple the entire population of the European Union - live on less than 75p-a-day," she said.

“Britain has been playing a leading role in tackling these problems and I am delighted that all parties are commmited to meeting the UK’s aid promises.

"It is vital that whichever party wins the next election ensures that Britain continues to lead the world in the face of the fresh challenges posed by the economic crisis and climate change."

Ms Stocking expressed her support for the 'Robin Hood' tax, which has been backed by leaders of The Salvation Army and the United Reformed Church, Christian NGOs Tearfund and CAFOD.

They argue that the financial transaction tax, which would average 0.05 per cent, could raise much needed funds for the poor and measures to tackle climate change.

Ms Stocking said: “A Robin Hood Tax on banks’ financial transactions would raise the hundreds of billions of pounds needed to tackle these problems without hurting ordinary people.”