[UK] Cameron sets out world poverty pledges

from E Politix

David Cameron will today set out his party's views on tackling global poverty in a speech to Oxfam.

The Conservative leader is on a visit to Oxford where he will meet staff at the aid agency's headquarters and take part in a global weblink.

He will then deliver a speech on global poverty to Oxfam workers and members of the public at Oxford town hall.

At prime minister's questions in the Commons on Wednesday, Cameron pressed Tony Blair to do more to secure an agreement at world trade talks this week.

He said Oxfam had expressed severe doubts over the chance of making progress in the talks and added it would be a "disaster" if the WTO talks failed.

The issue has already been in the news this week after Tony Blair announced on Monday he was setting up a body to monitor progress on tackling poverty in Africa.

UN secretary general Kofi Annan will be joined by campaigner Bob Geldof and Microsoft founder Bill Gates on the Africa Progress Panel.

They will produce an annual report on the success of the pledges made at last year's Gleneagles G8 summit.

Delivering a speech at King's College, London on Monday, Blair said the summit achieved "more than all but those with the most rose-tinted spectacles thought was possible."

But he warned that the twin G8 issues of Africa and climate change could easily slip down the international agenda.

"We must not let that happen," the prime minister said. "I will do everything I can to ensure they don't."