Geldof criticises G8 speed on targets

Anti-poverty campaigner Bob Geldof insisted the G8 should by now be at the halfway stage of delivering its aid commitments for the developing world, but was in fact at just 14%.

He said the UK was “leading the pack by a million miles” when it came to fulfilling the promises.

“Britain is the one making the running on this. They always have been,” he added.

The Band Aid star said Germany and America were also on track, and things “could be worse”, but other countries such as summit hosts Japan were not pulling their weight.

He also rejected criticism of the lavish menu laid on for leaders, saying: “I think all they have got going for themselves is the food, because they are marooned up a mountain surrounded by fog and if they didn’t have a good p***-up there would be nothing else to do,” Geldof said.

“What is ridiculous is that Japan have doubled their aid by £200m (€251m) – and remember this is the second biggest economy on the planet – but the security around the fog-shrouded mountain is (costing) £280m (€352m).

“So you can keep your lobsters, but they can bin a couple of the cops, I think.”