Dear Tony Blair and Gordon Brown,

AID WORKS - INCREASE IT NOW

Because 6,400 people are dying every day in Africa from AIDS.

Because over 100 million children in the world don't get to go to primary school.

Because every year 525,000 mothers die in childbirth.

Because the debt crisis isn't over.

Because we want to live in a more peaceful and secure world.

Because in 2005 there must be an historic drive to tackle global poverty.

Because you have said twice as much aid is needed.

Because Britain's aid must continue to be amongst the best in the world.

Because of these things, and more, we urge you to increase dramatically the aid budget beyond the 2005 target of 0.4% of national income and set a date for when Britain will meet its long-standing commitment to 0.7%.

Yours sincerely,

Bob Geldof, Bono, Jude Law, Chris Martin, Helen Mirren, Ben Okri, Joan Bakewell, Michelle Collins, Richard Curtis, Minnie Driver, Ms Dynamite, Sir Richard Eyre, Joseph Fiennes, Colin Firth, Kath Hamnett, Sir David Hare, Kwame Kwei-Armah, Tony Robinson, Anita Roddick, Juliet Stevenson, Zoe Wanamaker, Benjamin Zephaniah, plus Directors of Oxfam, Christian Aid, and DATA.