Bono the Activist

December 1, 2015

HE was one of Labour's highest profile General Election casualties when ousted by the SNP's rising star Mhairi Black.

But former Shadow Foreign Secretary Douglas Alexander is back, having formed an unlikely double act with U2 frontman Bono.

He will be a 'global poverty adviser' to the musician, focusing on ways of attracting investment into developing countries.

In doing so he becomes the latest Labour frontbencher to leave politics for the lucrative world of international aid.

David Miliband secured his 'dream job' as head of the International Rescue Committee on a salary estimated to be around £300,000 - five times what he earned as an MP - after leaving politics having lost the Labour leadership race in 2010.

Mr Alexander was his campaign chief, and both men were government ministers under Tony Blair, who has amassed an estimated £60million since leaving office, while also working as Middle East peace envoy and setting up charities such as the Tony Blair Faith Foundation and the African Governance Initiative.

The former MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South will be employed directly by Bono and his work will complement the One Campaign, the musician's anti-poverty advocacy group.

A spokesman for Bono refused to say how much he will be paid. The singer is one of the world's richest pop stars, with an estimated net worth of £700million, a 2.3 per cent stake in Facebook and is also cofounder of venture capital firm Elevation Partners.

The spokesman added that the pair had known each other for years and had been in discussions for several months about how to drive investment and technological advancements in Africa. In a statement, Bono said: 'Music is what I do, and it's given me the opportunity to do a lot of other things besides, where Douglas Alexander's experience will be of great value.

'I've been lucky to work with a lot of bright, committed people in my activism, and he will be a great new partner for all of us. We come from different arenas, but we share a commitment to tackling poverty through sustainable development, and a belief that both governments and businesses have an essential role.'

Mr Alexander said: 'Today's headlines understandably are focused on terrorism, refugees, conflict and the ups and downs of politics. Yet beneath all the headlines it is new technology, a globalised market and climate change that remain the most powerful forces shaping our world. Developing countries need aid but they also need investment.'

He added: 'I met Bono when I was a Governor of the World Bank and the International Development Secretary and we have remained in touch.

'We share a decades-long commitment to tackling poverty and delivering inclusive growth in Africa.'