KEETCH SUPPORTS "MAKE POVERTY HISTORY" CAMPAIGN

5.20.10pm GMT Wed 10th Nov 2004

Local MP Paul Keetch along with other Members of Parliament and well known celebrities yesterday joined forces at the parliamentary launch of the "Make Poverty History" campaign in the House of Commons.

Speaking on the night Mr Keetch said "Over 80 of the country's most influential international development organisations have assembled a powerful coalition to fight against world poverty to ensure that 2005 becomes a year when the face of global poverty is changed forever. More and more organisations are joining every week. Across the globe, there is a growing agreement and understanding that trade, debt and aid are the crucial policy areas that must be addressed in order to make an unprecedented difference to the state of world poverty".

Leading celebrities including Lenny Henry, Dawn French, Davina McCall, Richard Curtis, Kirsty Young and supermodel Claudia Schiffer, attended the launch to promote the campaign which seeks to bring about changes in three key areas - trade, debt and aid.

The "Make Poverty History" campaign will run throughout 2005 and will capitalise on the unprecedented series of events taking place throughout the year which can put global poverty at the heart of the political agenda.

Next year the United Kingdom is hosting the G8 summit, will hold the Presidency of the European Union and will report on the Prime Minister's 'Commission for Africa'. In addition, 2005 marks the 10th anniversary of Comic Relief, the 20th anniversary of Live Aid and the Millennium Development Goals 5 year summit - taken together, these events represent a

unique and powerful opportunity to make next year truly historic.