For Blair and Brown, it is relatively safe politically to lead a popular crusade against global poverty. They have been much less bold about addressing the inequality gap in Britain. When Bill Gates praised Blair and Brown in Hyde Park on Saturday, there was no jeering from the crowd. It would not have been altogether incongruous if the two of them had appeared together on stage and performed an old hit. Implicitly they were part of the event, as well as being the political recipients of the message. Which candidate for the Conservative leadership would dare to criticise Geldof, and by extension Blair and Brown? Geldof and Bono are the new politicians, while Blair and Brown can only be progressive by forming alliances with rock stars.
Both of them were thrilled when Bono compared them to Lennon and McCartney at last year's Labour conference.Behind the protective clothing of rock stardom they are emboldened to tackle Third World debt and acquire a new political credibility. The elected politicians are not totally subservient and Geldof is often left expressing frustration rather than gratitude at the behaviour of ministers.While Geldof saw an opening in the election of Blair and Brown, the two politicians were also alert to a rare political opportunity. Knowing it is easier to get public opinion on board with the support of rock stars, Blair and Brown placed Africa at the top of their agenda. They are free to be progressive and ambitious without the usual barriers of media and political opposition. Geldof sensed an opening, forming a close relationship with Brown, and later with Blair. When Geldof meets up with Brown on social occasions, he is known to physically embrace the Chancellor for at least half a minute, an unusual experience for Brown and for those observing the close contact. Brown is not famous for his tactile instincts.But the relationship is complex.
Sometimes Brown's entourage despair as Geldof demands more money. One or two have dared to adopt an Irish accent and impersonate his relentless demands: "Just give me another five hundred million and we can solve this..." they chorus mockingly in the Treasury, presumably a form of blasphemy in the light of last weekend's triumph Quite often, Blair and Brown turn down Geldof's requests. As International Development Secretary, Clare Short found that the public spending rounds were easy for her because "Gordon was committed to the cause". When Labour came to power, Brown in particular was committed to addressing global poverty at a time when the issue was out of fashion. Never has a government been led by politicians more neurotically conscious of the limits of power. This was demonstrated within the first week of their election in 1997, when Gordon Brown gave away the colossal power to set interest rates. The granting of independence to the Bank of England was as much a political decision as an economic one.