An MP has called on the world s richest nations to take down trade barriers to tackle global poverty. Hitchin MP Peter Lilley is one of five prominent politicians who have written an open letter to the leaders of the G20 nations calling on them to remov

An MP has called on the world's richest nations to take down trade barriers to tackle global poverty.

Hitchin MP Peter Lilley is one of five prominent politicians who have written an open letter to the leaders of the G20 nations calling on them to remove protectionism to help the World's poorest countries.

Mr Lilley said: "It really is about time that the prosperous nations opened up their markets and simplified the rules to allow developing countries a share of world trade.

"The current economic crisis makes action all the more urgent. The global recession is generating protectionist sentiments in Europe and the United States, but in the 1930s that sort of response turned a recession into a prolonged slump.

"This campaign is being led by me and four colleagues from across the political spectrum - John Battle, Sir Menzies Campbell, Lord Hastings and Clare Short - and is backed by the former UN secretary General Kofi Annan and the anti-poverty campaigner Bob Geldof. We want everyone who cares about this issue to bring pressure to bear on governments across the developed world."

The 20 richest nations are due to meet at the G20 summit in London next month.