UK Leaders Pledge to Tackle Poverty - Ex-US President Clinton Offers Support

24th April was World Poverty Day. In the UK, the day was meaningfully marked by the three main party leaders showing their determination to make poverty history. In the run-up to the General Election on 5th May, anti-poverty policy has become an important factor for voters considering the ballot, especially among Christians.

According to Oxfam Great Britain, a YouGov poll published yesterday showed that 78 percent of people want to see the main political parties do more on fighting global poverty. 82 percent believe that politicians need to respond as urgently to the number of children dying every day in Africa as they did to the Asia Tsunami.

On World Poverty Day, Prime Minister Tony Blair led a massive rally of the Labour Party at the Old Vic Theatre in Waterloo, London for action against poverty in Africa.

"We have to make 2005 the year of the new beginning for Africa," Blair declared. He added that with the help of other leading wealthy nations, Africa will end the "scandal" of death from AIDS, malaria and other preventable diseases.

Blair pledged to influence the policies of the G8 industrialised nations so as to secure aid for Africa when the UK holds the G8 presidency in 2005. In addition, Blair pointed out that the proportion of national wealth devoted to international aid had risen every year since the Labour Party came to power in 1997.

The MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY campaign launched in the UK has joined over 400 charities, trade unions, church organisations and faith groups to lobby the British government to make a global change in poverty relief this year by reinforcing law for trade justice, dropping the debt of poor countries as well as providing more and better aid. Blair has obviously showed his response to their call.

"If we are given the chance and are re-elected, I can make you this commitment. We will work night and day to end the scandal of poverty in Africa," Blair said yesterday.

The US Ex-President Bill Clinton offered support for Blair's initiative through a live satellite link from New York. "It's not only achievable, it is morally right," Clinton said. "We can do this, but it requires leadership, and Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and New Labour are providing that leadership."

"I'm just here to say thank you, amen and go get it. But if you value this you have to vote," Clinton called for the support of British voters for the Labour Party.

On the other hand, Conservative Party leader Michael Howard gave a speech at Tabernacle Christian Centre in west London, seeking to stand in line with the other two major parties to tackle world poverty.

"I'm particularly pleased that the cause of making poverty history is something that has united the parties in this country. If we can work together to achieve that we will all be performing a service to the rest of the people who share this planet with us."

He stressed fairer trade would enable less developed states to sustain themselves. And he also called for good governance and the elimination of corruption to ensure that aid reached the poorest people within the poorest nations.

Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy, when delivering a speech in Barnes, south-west London, accused the government of not putting in enough effort and resources to make poverty history. He insisted that his party would move faster than the others, ensuring that the country will met the UN aid target - 0.7% of GDP - for development assistance by 2011.

"Britain is a wealthy country, a prosperous country. It is the duty of countries such of ours, with the means to help, to take action to make poverty history," he said. "It is not only the right thing to do, it is in our national interest too."

Kennedy also called for 100% debt relief for the poorest countries as well as action to tackle the spread of AIDS and HIV.