'The poor will be heard. We’ll speak for them’

Shaun Connolly, Gleneagles

As the heads of the major industrial nations flew into Scotland for their annual gathering, the Irishman declared: "This time the poor will be heard. We will speak for them."

With Mr Geldof urging a million people to take to the streets today, he dismissed the anarchists who clashed with police on Monday as "losers".

No more than 5,000 anti-poverty demonstrators will be allowed near the summit venue, 50 miles north of Edinburgh and the focus of one of Europe's biggest security operations.

More than 10,600 British police have been mobilised as the three-day summit gets under way. They warned they would act "robustly" if trouble flared.

Mr Geldof said he was confident of an "historic breakthrough" at the G8 meeting.

"The negotiators have been taken from the table. The British Government will not lower the bar to the lowest common denominator. Look at George Bush's reaction, where he said he watched the concert all day and it was a great piece of mass advocacy. After the concert he began talking about trade. He started talking in a very different language," he said.

But he dismissed the horse trading between leaders on parts of the trade and aid package as a "game of poker with the lives of the world's poor as the chips".

And he condemned the demonstrators who clashed with police, 60 of whom appeared in court yesterday.

"They've got nothing to do with our message."

The anti-poverty activist was speaking as he held hands with Idy Maina, an aid worker who travelled across Africa collecting messages for the G8 leaders.

Summit host Tony Blair talked up expectations of a groundbreaking deal on climate change, debt and aid, saying he would "go for it" as he had gone for London's 2012 Olympic bid the outcome of which will be revealed today.

As negotiators worked behind the scenes, Downing Street said a deal on global warming was going "down to the wire". Climate change remains the most contentious issue, but the US has moved enough for Mr Blair to claim a consensus although the form of words is unlikely to satisfy the environmental lobby.

South Africa warned the campaign against poverty would fail unless rich countries announced a timetable for ending farm subsidies.

Mr Geldof is not expected to take part in the Gleneagles march as he will be finalising a Live 8 concert, Edinburgh 50,000, in the Scottish capital tonight.

The event refers to the number of people who die daily from poverty and is expected to draw 80,000 people to Murrayfield.