Christian Aid is delighted that by speaking to campaigners at Gleneagles today Gordon Brown is acknowledging the dedication of these men and women who want to see an end to global poverty. And yet such campaigning is still needed - two years on from the Make Poverty History rally in Edinburgh for the G8 Gleneagles meeting, millions of people still live in poverty.

'The efforts that Gordon Brown has put into the fight against global poverty are to be applauded, but, as heir presumptive to the Prime Minister we need him to show real leadership both globally and in the UK in the struggle to cut carbon emissions and bring climate change under control,' said Claire Shelley of Christian Aid Scotland. 'If he doesn't do that, all his other efforts will be wasted'.

'In 2005 the UK government made fighting poverty in Africa and climate change their top priorities for the G8. Unfortunately despite their efforts what was agreed was a poor reflection of what was needed when compared to the scale of the problems and the campaigning by the people of Britain and around the world.

Two years later we find that:

promises of more aid are slipping and aid still comes with damaging economic conditions

only 20 countries have received full debt relief, when even Gordon Brown acknowledges that at least 66 should get it

world trade talks are stagnating and the EU is pushing an even more aggressive agenda in new trade deals with former colonies

and dwarfing all of this the world has noticeably failed to act on climate change, which is now very clearly the biggest threat to development the world is facing. The science on climate change is uncompromising and only by acting quickly and decisively will we prevent a terrible injustice being visited on poor people.'

For more information please contact Claire Shelley on 07961 303481

Notes to Editors:

Christian Aid works in some of the world's poorest communities in more than 50 countries. We act where the need is greatest, regardless of religion, helping people build the life they deserve.