Government must ensure Millennium Development Goals Are Met - George

10.16.28am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 21st Sep 2005

Liberal Democrat Shadow International Development Secretary, Andrew George MP, today called on the Government to use its Presidency of the EU and G8 to ensure that the promises made at Gleneagles in July are delivered.

Speaking at the Party's Autumn Conference in Blackpool this afternoon, Mr George said:

"Last week world leaders had the opportunity at the UN to give a fresh impetus to the eight Millennium Development Goals to fight poverty and disease. Again proclamations rang out, but the ability to delivery was, once again, half-baked.

"If the Government fails to use its pivotal position as President of the G8 and of the EU then it, rather than poverty, will be made history. The UK will be seen as complicit in a missed opportunity of epic proportions.

"Whilst billions are daily spent in shoring up the misguided military adventure in Iraq, the number of avoidable deaths in the world's poorest countries is on the increase, and the much trumpeted five-year old Millennium targets are further from our reach.

"I don't doubt the sincerity of some Government Ministers, but they are running out of time to prove to the millions of people who fought and campaigned this summer that they are capable of making poverty history."