Blair Welcome Anti-Poverty Campaigners

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By Andrew Woodcock, PA Political Correspondent

Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife Cherie today welcomed a delegation of African women to 10 Downing Street as part of the Make Poverty History campaign.

The six women were delivering a petition calling on Mr Blair to put the plight of the poor people of Africa at the top of his agenda for the summit of the G8 group of industrialised nations at Gleneagles, in Scotland, in July.

A campaign spokesman said that more than 2.5 million British people had bought white wristbands to express their support for Make Poverty History, while more than 300,000 people had sent personal messages to Mr Blair by text message, e-mail or postcard.

In traditional African style, the women carried the pages of the petition in woven baskets balanced on their heads as they arrived at Number 10.

A Downing Street spokesman said: “The Prime Minister thanked Make Poverty History for their campaign, which has ensured that international public attention remains focused on the issue of Africa.

“We have set an ambitious agenda for the Gleneagles summit and we couldn’t do it without the support of groups like Make Poverty History.”