PM at anti-poverty summit

Gordon Brown is backing an event in London today highlighting corporate efforts towards cutting poverty around the world.

The prime minister has called for a "year of action" to tackle poverty in the developing world and hopes showcasing efforts from major companies will help save lives boost struggling economies.

Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Vodafone and Citi are among the companies taking part and are highlighting their initiatives in the hope other firms will follow their lead.

"We know without an extraordinary effort we will fail, and to get the millennium development goals back on track we will need everyone to play their part," Mr Brown commented.

"Today's event is about enlisting the support and expertise of global business to develop new and innovative ways to spread growth, prosperity and opportunity in poor countries across the world."

The event follows Mr Brown's speech to the UN in July last year, when he called for increased efforts on delivering the millennium development goals by 2015.