Geldof helps Tory poverty policyAnti-poverty campaigner Sir Bob Geldof is to become a consultant to a new Conservative party policy group on global poverty.
Sir Bob played a leading role in the Make Poverty History campaign in the run-up to the G8 summit in July.
Opposition leader David Cameron launched the party's Globalisation and Global Poverty group this week.
He said he was delighted that Sir Bob - who would remain non-partisan - would bring his influence to the group.
Announcing the new Tory group, which will be chaired by former social security secretary Peter Lilley, Mr Cameron said Sir Bob would help the party "go in the direction that he and we both want to go".
He said: "This summer, millions of British people took part in the Make Poverty History campaign.
"A new generation of concerned citizens want prosperity for themselves and progress for the poor, whether living on the other side of the street or the other side of the world."
Conservatives have a "vital contribution" to make to the debate about globalisation and poverty, he added.
"Our policy group will develop ideas to enable the economic empowerment of the poorest people on our planet - for example through property rights and other institutions to promote economic development and wealth creation."
Earlier this month Mr Cameron signed up environmentalist Zac Goldsmith as joint chair of a group set up to formulate green policies.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4563258.stm
― Last Of The Famous International Pfunkboys (Kerr), Wednesday, 28 December 2005 01:08 (twenty years ago)
And people still can't remember that his name isn't Sir Bob Geldof. You don't call Bill Gates "Sir Bill Gates", do you?
― Forest Pines (ForestPines), Wednesday, 28 December 2005 08:28 (twenty years ago)
Gosh, someone who knows a bit about something advising people who want to know about something shocker! Is there a question to be answered, or something to be discussed?
― ailsa (ailsa), Wednesday, 28 December 2005 09:05 (twenty years ago)
Tory leaders seemingly advocating redistribution of wealth is surely worthy of note?
― Onimo (GerryNemo), Wednesday, 28 December 2005 10:17 (twenty years ago)
The sad thing about noble rock stars is that they're basically just rich people and think that rich people are somehow the solution to poverty, when the best idea is probably just to EAT THEM (the rich).
― steve ketchup, Thursday, 29 December 2005 06:02 (twenty years ago)
I don't know who's more odious - Bob Geldoff or the Tory party - so it seems like a match made in heaven to me.
― Johnny B Was Quizzical (Johnney B), Thursday, 29 December 2005 09:58 (twenty years ago)
It's clear to me which is the more odious, even if "This is the World Calling" wasn't so good.
― Tim (Tim), Thursday, 29 December 2005 10:11 (twenty years ago)