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It’s the one statistic Labour can’t bear.

That we became a more caring, sharing society under the Tories. Not that the Thatcher government can take any credit – they just happened to be in power when Bob Geldof changed the world. It’s impossible to exaggerate the effect this record had. Yes, there had always been sponsored walks and people sitting in bathtubs full of baked beans, but it was Geldof who made charitable giving part of our consciousness. Without him, there would have been no Live Aid, Comic Relief, BBC Children in Need or countless other charity projects which, between them, have raised billions. No praise is too high for his achievements. Especially when compared with John and Yoko’s efforts to change the world in 1969 – lying in bed for a week in a luxury hotel. So when anyone tells you about the “Peace and Love” 60s and the “Greed is Good” 80s, remember – it was actually the other way round.

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