Fox letter: storm in a fair trade, biodegradable cup

David Cameron probably let out a sigh when he was informed that yet another letter from Liam Fox had been leaked to the press. And when the Defence Secretary called No 10, as he undoubtedly did, to do his now-familiar Captain Renault routine, the Prime Minister can be excused for feeling a little frustrated. For the debates that have occurred in consequence miss a number of key points.

The PM believes in overseas development – believes it is right, believes it is useful. No doubt he may find it useful to “decontaminate” the Tories but would not have been willing to spend 0.7 percent of GDP for something he did not believe in. This morning on BBC News, Anne McElvoy rehearsed an argument she first made in the Spectator in early 2008: that Britain would be, and is now, run by a generation of post-Cold War, socially liberal politicians. The Tory leader belongs to this generation and a commitment to helping the world’s poor is what this cohort believes in, whatever party they are from.