Editing Bob Geldof (section)

==Criticism of his charity work==
Although part of the campaign "[[Make Poverty History]]" (MPH), Live 8 was accused by John Hilary, then a senior executive of the campaign, of hijacking MPH by planning its concerts on the same day as the march in [[Edinburgh]], which was said to be the biggest social justice march in Scottish history.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2010/apr/05/geldof-arrogance-poverty-agenda-starsuckers | newspaper=[[The Guardian]] | location=London | title=The arrogance of Saint Bob | first=John | last=Hilary | date=5 April 2010 | access-date=26 April 2010}}</ref>

Geldof was also criticised for the lack of African acts performing at Live 8.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2005/jun/15/live8 | newspaper=[[The Guardian]] | location=London | title=Pressure forces Live 8 to add African concert | first=Sarah | last=Left | date=15 June 2005 | access-date=26 April 2010}}</ref> Geldof responded that only the biggest-selling artists would attract the huge audience required to capture the attention of the world in the run-up to the G8 meeting. In the lead-up to the G8 summit, Geldof, who had been a member of Tony Blair's Commission for Africa on which the Gleneagles recommendations were largely based,<ref>{{cite news | first=Bob| last=Geldof| url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2013/mar/02/bob-geldof-africa-tony-blair| title=Bob Geldof: Gleneagles G8 summit was a triumph for Africa – and Tony Blair| date=2 March 2013| newspaper=[[The Guardian]]| access-date=7 April 2014}}</ref> labelled [[Kumi Naidoo]]'s criticism of the summit "a disgrace".<ref>{{Cite news | first=John| last=Hilary| url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2010/apr/05/geldof-arrogance-poverty-agenda-starsuckers| title=The arrogance of Saint Bob| date=5 April 2010| newspaper=[[The Guardian]]| access-date=7 April 2014}}</ref> Some leading African campaigners have asked Geldof to stand down from the global [[anti-poverty]] movement, and the ''[[New Internationalist]]'' (between January and February 2006) said 'It would be long overdue if he did.'<ref name=20060101newint>{{cite web | url=http://www.newint.org/columns/worldbeaters/2006/01/01/bob-geldof/ |title=Does Africa any longer need Bob Geldof as its champion? After Live 8 many people are saying no. |date=1 January 2006|work= New Internationalist |access-date=10 August 2010}}</ref>

There were also accusations that Live 8 gave unqualified support to the personal and political agendas of [[Tony Blair]] and [[Gordon Brown]], particularly in the lead-up to an election. Though many felt that it was the British politicians who had accepted Geldof's agenda, rather than the other way round, this led to accusations that Geldof had compromised his cause.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/print/0,3858,5220235-103677,00.html | newspaper=[[The Guardian]] | location=London | title=Bards of the powerful | first=George | last=Monbiot | date=21 June 2005 | access-date=26 April 2010}}</ref>

The promises made for Africa at the Gleneagles summit were widely praised: "the greatest summit for Africa ever" ([[Kofi Annan]]), "an important, if incomplete, boost to the development prospects of the poorest countries" economist ([[Jeffrey Sachs]]) or "a major breakthrough on debt" (Kevin Wakins, former head of research at Oxfam). But many aid agencies pronounced their disappointment with the outcome, feeling that the strict conditions imposed on African countries for accepting debt relief left them little better off than before. The ''New Internationalist'' scathingly stated, since becoming prominent in the salvation of Africa, "Geldof has re-released the entire back catalogue of the Boomtown Rats."<ref name=20060101newint/>

[[Oasis (band)|Oasis]] guitarist [[Noel Gallagher]] became one of the more vocal sceptics about the impact of Live 8, citing his belief that rock stars have less influence over world leaders than popular culture may believe.  His explanation was:
{{blockquote|Correct me if I'm wrong, but are they hoping that one of these guys from the [[G8]] is on a quick 15-minute break at [[31st G8 summit|Gleneagles]] and sees [[Annie Lennox]] singing "[[Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)|Sweet Dreams]]" and thinks, 'Fuck me, she might have a point there, you know?'  And [[Keane (band)|Keane]] doing "[[Somewhere Only We Know]]" and some Japanese businessman going, 'Aw, look at him. ... we should really fucking drop that debt, you know.'  It's not going to happen, is it?<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2005/jun/19/arts.live8 | newspaper=The Guardian | location=London | title=Gallagher casts doubt on the value of Live8 | first=David | last=Smith | date=19 June 2005 | access-date=26 April 2010}}</ref> }}