Posted on 12/27/2005 7:43:10 PM PST by Aussie Dasher
BOB Geldof, the rock singer behind the Make Poverty History campaign and Live8 concerts, is to act as a consultant to Britain's main opposition Conservatives, the party announced today.
Geldof, who led calls for the Group of Eight richest nations to act on debt, trade and poverty during July's Gleneagles summit, will work as an adviser to Tory leader David Cameron's new Globalisation and Global Poverty policy group.
The move is likely to be seen as a coup for Mr Cameron, who was elected to the post earlier this month, and signals a move by Tories onto ground championed by Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair and his Finance Minister Gordon Brown.
Announcing the new body, Mr Cameron said he was delighted Geldof was on board and stressed the often outspoken activist would remain "entirely non-partisan".
"He will bring his influence to bear, in order to help us to go in the direction that he and we both want to go," Mr Cameron said.
Conservative home affairs spokesman David Davis spoke of reaching out to the "wrist band generation" during hustings for the leadership.
The reference was not only to the millions who bought white plastic bracelets to support Make Poverty History but also for the need for the Conservative Party to adapt to prevent a fourth straight defeat at the polls.
Mr Cameron - a youthful, telegenic moderniser who is looking to revamp his party's traditional image and increase the number of women and ethnic minority Members of Parliament - pledged to make his one-time rival's remarks reality.
"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," he said.
"Modern, compassionate Conservatism means responding to their demands.
"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."
Was it Art Carney who once said, "Very interesting..."?
Hard to discern Labor from the Tories these days. The fact that everyone from Cameron's college buddies and teachers to fellow Tories say he is "not a partisan" certainly can't be seen as a good sign.
Yeah, I think they're stuffed!
Arte Johnson.
THANK YOU. Was it Ruth Carney?
Ruth Buzzi(spelling?)
I think you're right. It was a loooong time ago...
I knew I was getting old when I mentioned "Laugh-in" at work and got a blank stare in return.
I think it was actually Harry Who.
Image over substance. All sizzle and no steak. :(
You can always create one. But you've got a lot of white supremecist groups already.
See, the thing is- I'm a foreigner living in Britain. Many of my friends are foreigners. A lady I fancy is a dark skinned Muslim woman. I don't have too much patience for the BNP. I've actually sat down and talked to some of these people. Got no use for 'em.
The BNP are fascists. 'Nuff said,
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