SIR Bob Geldof will act as a consultant to new Tory policy group on global poverty announced by leader David Cameron today.
Activist and musician Geldof played a leading role in the Make Poverty History campaign in the lead up to the G8 summit of world leaders.
Tony Blair had made tackling Africa's problems a key issue at the Gleneagles gathering and aid agencies were critical of Geldof's close involvement.
Persuading him to work with the new Conservatives Globalisation and Global Poverty group is another coup for Mr Cameron as he seeks to prove his party has changed and modernised.
The Tory has already signed up maverick environmentalist Zac Goldsmith as joint chairman of the group formulating green policies.
With the new group, he is moving on to issues the Prime Minister and Chancellor Gordon Brown have loudly championed in the past.
And it's proof Geldof has has moved on too, after famously clashing with former Conservative Prime Minister Baroness Thatcher in the 1980s over the VAT charge levied on the Band Aid single. She later agreed to waive the charge.
Non-partisan
Mr Cameron made a direct link with the summer's anti-poverty crusade as he announced the new group, which will be chaired by Peter Lilley. And he said: "I'm delighted that Bob Geldof (though remaining entirely non-partisan) has agreed to work in consultation with the group.
"He will bring his influence to bear, to help us to go in the direction that he and we both want to go."
Conservatives have a "vital contribution" to make to the debate about globalisation and poverty, Mr Cameron insisted.
"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."
International Development Secretary Hilary Benn responded to the Tories' Geldof announcement by outlining Labour's credentials on international development.
He said that Labour had "always sought a consensus on international development that actions speak louder than words".
"Britain has agreed to spend 0.7 per cent of its gross national income on aid by 2013," he said. "This is an internationally agreed target and Labour is the first government in British history to commit to this."
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Isn't media tycoon and Knight of the Realm, Sir Bob Geldof, one of the richest men in England? Sends his children to public school doesn't he? (Who then arrogantly come up here and tell the poor kids of Bolton that they have no respect!!)
What an absolutely pathetic & hypocritical "celebrity obsessed" nation we now are!!
I use to love my England, now I hate it!!
[PS: It isn't yet against the law to criticise Sir Bob is it?]
Bob Geldorf,
Why do not people of the same opinions as Geldorf start to look after their own before they ask for money prop up dictatorships in Africa & elsewhere.
You know, how about supporting the countless numbers who are suffering in the UK through lack of adequate healthcare,old folk living in abject poverty & often dying because of the lifestyle imposed upon them, young children wihout access to adequate schooling & countless others who just get by on a meagre pensions or wages.
I could go on but suffice to say 'get nicked sir Bob' you aren't doing too badly for all your tears & piety.