Editing Bob Geldof (section)

==Views==
===Politics===
[[File:Bob Geldof urges young people to come out and be heard -BREXIT (28054729195).jpg|thumb|right|240px|Geldof outside the [[Palace of Westminster|Houses of Parliament]] in London during the Brexit Protest March on 2 July 2016]]
In 2002, Geldof appeared in an advertisement opposing the possibility of the United Kingdom joining the [[Euro|single EU currency]], saying it was "not anti-European to be against the euro".<ref name="Euro">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/2080930.stm |title=UK &#124; Politics &#124; Geldof says no to euro |work=[[BBC News]] |date=2 July 2002 |access-date=27 July 2016}}</ref> He also criticised the [[European Union]] in 2004 for what he called its "pathetic" response to [[Ethiopia]]'s food crisis.<ref name="Ethiopia">{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2939878.stm |title=Africa &#124; Geldof: Ethiopia aid 'pathetic' |work=[[BBC News]] |date=27 May 2003 |access-date=27 July 2016}}</ref> [[Member of the European Parliament|MEP]] [[Glenys Kinnock, Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead|Glenys Kinnock]] responded that Geldof's comments were "unhelpful and misinformed".<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/2947560.stm | work=BBC News | title=Kinnock attacks famine hero Geldof | date=29 May 2003 |access-date=26 April 2010}}</ref>

In 2003, during a visit to [[Ethiopia]], Geldof praised U.S. President [[George W. Bush]]'s proposal to fight [[AIDS]] in Africa.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.peopleandplanet.net/doc.php?id=1960 |title=Geldof praises US AIDS plan |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030619042325/http://www.peopleandplanet.net/doc.php?id=1960 |archive-date=19 June 2003 |access-date=8 April 2014}}</ref>

In December 2005, Geldof agreed to give advice on global poverty to the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4563258.stm | work=BBC News | title=Geldof helps Tory poverty policy | date=28 December 2005 | access-date=26 April 2010}}</ref> He stated, however, that he was uninterested in party politics: "I've said I'll shake hands with the devil on my [[left-wing politics|left]] and the devil on my [[right-wing politics|right]] to get to where we need to be."<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/entertainment/geldof-i-am-no-conservative-politician-237276.html | newspaper=[[Irish Examiner]] | title=Geldof: 'I am no conservative politician' | date=30 December 2005 | access-date=31 May 2019}}</ref>

Geldof was a vocal supporter of the unsuccessful campaign for the UK to vote "Remain" in the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|2016 referendum on the UK's membership of the European Union]]. Shortly before the vote, in what was described as the "most surreal day in British politics ever",<ref>{{cite web|author=Michael Deacon Parliamentary Sketchwriter |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/15/nigel-farage-bob-geldof-a-chase-down-the-thames-and-the-most-sur/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/15/nigel-farage-bob-geldof-a-chase-down-the-thames-and-the-most-sur/ |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Nigel Farage, Bob Geldof, a chase down the Thames... and the most surreal day in British politics ever |website=Telegraph.co.uk |date=15 June 2016 |access-date=27 July 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Geldof led a flotilla on the River Thames to attack an opposition flotilla led by Eurosceptic politician [[Nigel Farage]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Robert Booth |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2016/jun/15/nigel-farage-bob-geldof-rival-eu-referendum-thames-flotillas |title=Nigel Farage and Bob Geldof's rival EU referendum flotillas clash on the Thames &#124; Politics |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=27 July 2016}}</ref> Later that year, Geldof campaigned for the [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]] candidate [[Sarah Olney]] at the [[2016 Richmond Park by-election|Richmond Park by-election]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Jessica Elgot and Rebecca Pinnington |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/nov/30/bob-geldof-rails-against-brexit-backs-lib-dems-richmond-park-byelection|title=Bob Geldof rails against Brexit as he backs Lib Dems in Richmond Park |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=30 November 2016 |access-date=2 December 2016}}</ref> He described [[Brexit]] as "the greatest act of national self-harm" in British history and vowed to "undermine" [[Theresa May]] every step of the way. He said the EU was "a mess" but warned Britain's young people had their futures "taken from them" as a result of the referendum.<ref>{{cite news|author=Jon Hopkins |url=https://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/market_reports/174977/singer-and-liveaid-founder-bob-geldof-brands-brexit-the-greatest-act-of-national-self-harm-in-british-history-174977.html |title=Singer and LiveAID founder Bob Geldof brands Brexit "the greatest act of national self-harm" in British history |website=Proactive Investors |date=17 March 2017 |access-date=31 May 2019}}</ref>

Ahead of the [[2024 United Kingdom general election]] Geldof posted a video endorsing the re-election of [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] candidate and [[Minister of State for Development and Africa]] [[Andrew Mitchell]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/06/19/vote-tory-cabinet-minister-friend-says-sir-bob-geldof/ |title=Watch: Vote for my Tory Cabinet minister friend, says Sir Bob Geldof |newspaper=The Telegraph |date=19 June 2024 |access-date=2024-06-20 |last1=Sigsworth |first1=Tim }}</ref>

===Fathers' rights===
From January 2002 until sometime in 2005, Geldof listened very closely to [[Father's Rights]] campaigners, and it was reported that he had sacks of mail arriving at his door on a daily basis from fathers who were unhappy with the British family courts.  He said, "I am heartbroken. I just cannot believe what happens to people, what is done to them in the name of the law.<ref name="Spig.clara.net">{{cite web|url=http://www.spig.clara.net/geldof.htm |title=SPIG – Bob Geldof 17&nbsp;June&nbsp;2002 |website=Spig.clara.net |access-date=10 August 2010}}</ref> You only have to open your eyes to see what I call the 'Sad Dads on Sundays Syndrome'".  He has also called for the [[Children Act 1989|Children Act]] to be repealed and his latest statement to Father's Rights campaigners was, "It's not in my nature to shut up".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.parents4protest.co.uk/bob_geldof.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061209212754/http://www.parents4protest.co.uk/bob_geldof.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date= 9 December 2006 |title=Bob Geldof and Fathers Rights |website=Parents4protest.co.uk |date=7 February 2010 |access-date=10 August 2010 }}</ref>

===Population===
In March 2012, Geldof expressed concern about [[population growth|rising population]] and falling [[Water table|water levels]] in Arab countries. He also predicted [[famine]], [[Plague (disease)|plague]], and [[wars]] if the population did not stabilise. Geldof asked countries to lower their birth rates to lessen the burden on the environment. "We must see the possibility of life, not just to individual children, but to the human species," he said "And I'm not that optimistic."<ref>{{cite web|title=Sir Bob Geldof calls for women to have fewer children|url=http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/sir-bob-geldof-calls-for-women-to-have-fewer-children|website=Thenational.ae|date=16 March 2012 |publisher=The National, Abu Dhabi Media's first English-language publication}}</ref>