to ask if you agree that we "should not be sending aid to bongo bongo land"

[ICBINEG]

Aside the ridiculous racist overtones of the statement itself....if you can...

The adorable MEP on radio 4 this morning was suggesting that it is inappropriate to be sending aid abroad when we are cutting police, hospitals and the defence back home.

The interviewer pointed out the last aid dispatched was 50 million to help with a polio outbreak in the Sudan area.

The MEP basically said if people want to give to charity they can, the government shouldn't and I think the majority of your listeners agree.

So please answer if you will:

1. Did you hear the interview?
   
2. Do you agree that we should stop sending foreign aid?
   
3. Can you believe he said bongo bongo? In 2013???

[Shrugged]

1. Yes.
   
2. No.
   
3. I looked at DH and said 'WHAT?' And he said UKIP, and I said 'Oh. Figures.'

[wonderingsoul]

1-n0
2- yes
3-- dont agree but can belive so yes.

[thornrose]

1. No
   
2. No
   

[ICBINEG]

Oh I should answer as well shouldn't I.

1. yes (obvs)
   
2. no
   
3. genuinely no. Not even UKIP.

[Justforlaughs]

I do not shock easy, but when I read your thread title I went !

1. No, I didn't hear the interview, no doubt I was in bed
   
2. I'm not sure about foreign aid, I think that if we DO keep sending it, then we need to be very careful (which we are not at the moment) about where it is going, and what it is used for. I do not see why we should support regimes and dictators, but I do support feeding starving people and helping with vaccinations etc.
   

£. Again, another

[AKissIsNotAContract]

1. No
   
2. No
   
3. UKIP? Not surprised.

[Flobbadobs]

I didn't hear it, read something about it on a news website.
No I don't agree.
Sadly yes I can believe it. Thinking about the derogatory way beneifts claimants are spoken about, I can fully believe that countries who receive aid are referred to in the same type of way. It's almost fashionable to look down on those who are more in need of help than 'us'' these days wherever they are and to reduce them to offensive stereotypes..

[MalcolmTuckersMum]

I am surprised you think you're going to get any answers except the only possible ones in a civilised society to be honest. If you wanted a different view on this you'd have gone to a DM reader's forum surely?

[ICBINEG]

hi Mrs W.! Not looking for a flip flop on this one....but I'm always prepared!

[Trapper]

I had no idea that Bongos were associated with Pakistan. Learn something new everyday!

1. No
   
2. No (although I would welcome debate on the subject and increased visibility)
   
3. OMG No.

[ICBINEG]

malcolm I don't know how to say this...but um...MN is by FAR the most right wing place I frequent. By a mile. I am surprised daily at the things people say on here.

I think it's good for me. I spend the rest of my life in a liberal to the point of anarchic ivory tower in a bubble.

[ICBINEG]

hmmm I need more radio 4 listeners in my poll!

[ParsingFancy]

1. No
   
2. No
   
3. Well he was UKIP...
   

He hasn't really understood that war and aid are both the continuation of politics by other means, has he? Which is why the Coalition armies in Afghanistan are busy installing hydroelectric plants and building local facilities.

In fact it's a major problem for Oxfam in some countries, that the British army wants to work so closely with them they have to actively manage keeping a separate "brand".

[Billwoody]

1. Yes
   
2. Yes - if the recipient is unable to provide an audit trail to show that the money is spent on AID rather than on Mirage fighters, Dictator accoutrements and/or projects that do not merit AID support.
   
3. Yes, and I do think many people understand what he means (which is not ideal)

[Itsjustafleshwound]

No - saw headline and thought WTH?
Yes - not a popular opinion
No excuse - throwback to the old colonialist attitude and partly the reason why aid is needed.

[Flobbadobs]

Well technically I am a radio 4 listener if you count I'm sorry I haven't a clue and Just a minute every so often...

[pooka]

1. Yes
   
2. No
   
3. No. Just so depressingly Alf Garnett. People really elected this idiot? Really?

[Wheresmycaffeinedrip]

1. No
   
2. No. If we can help we should and even our fault ridden system is infinitely better than what some other countries have where kids die of everyday illnesses.
   
3. Just

[PanicMode]

1. Yes I did hear the interview - it reduced John Humphrys to silence which has to be almost a first!
   

1. I don't think we should stop giving aid, but I do think that it needs to be audited and targeted appropriately. I also think that some of the countries we are sending money too are in better shape financially than we are, and so I would rather it was sent to those in genuine need (Syrian refugees etc) than just being generally sent to x or y country.
   

1. During the interview he referred to "enjoying" the stir he was causing - and that he was just saying what others wouldn't in this PC world. How anyone votes for UKIP when they have attitudes like this astounds me and saddens me in equal measure - sadly, I think there will be enough people "at the rugby club, the golf club" who will vote for these ignorant bigots. (The other appalling thing is as an MEP, he can't be sacked/removed/ and will be earning stupid money on the gravy train so will be free to spout this nonsense for a long time to come.....)

[ubik]

Where is BongoBongoland?

[MerryMarigold]

Saw the thread title and thought this was something a 'hun' type had said on another thread. I cannot BELIEVE it was an MEP and broadcast. Ha. I hope he gets into a lot of publicity trouble for this. I also hope it shows people what UKIP is really about. But no, I do not listen to the radio except in the car. I think it would stress me out listening to stuff like that all day! I am too opinionated myself.

[AKissIsNotAContract]

Why are people surprised that UKIP are racist?

[teacherandguideleader]

I didn't hear the interview but do think we should stop some of the foreign aid. I deal with so many children in this country who are living in severe poverty and I believe we should sort this out and improve the life chances of our own young people. I appreciate that the need of those abroad may be greater and they are experiencing far greater poverty, but all the time children are being abused and neglected in the UK, I believe the money should be spent helping them.

I didn't get the whole uproar about Bongo Bongo as I had no idea what it was, but if it is racist and he is UKIP I'm not surprised.