Brown 'Obama bias' claim denied - News in brief - Evening Standard
       

Brown 'Obama bias' claim denied

Downing Street has denied Conservative accusations that Prime Minister Gordon Brown is taking sides in the US presidential election after he praised Democrat candidate Barack Obama in a magazine article.

Writing in the Parliamentary Monitor, Mr Brown said the Democrats were the party in America who were developing ideas to help people through the current economic difficulties.

He cited one of Mr Obama's proposals to help families facing repossession.

He did not mention Republican candidate John McCain.

It was reported a member of Mr McCain's campaign team contacted the British Embassy in Washington DC to express concern about the article.

Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said the Prime Minister should not do anything which suggests he is taking sides, as he will have to work with whichever candidate wins November's election. He called on Mr Brown to explain why he "appeared to be favouring the Democrats".

Downing Street denied that Mr Brown was taking sides in the US election.

A No 10 spokesman pointed out that Mr Brown had met Mr McCain both in London and the USA this year, just as he has met Mr Obama.

"The PM is not endorsing a candidate, and never would," said the spokesman. "As he has made clear when asked on a number of occasions, the election is a matter for the American people, and he looks forward to working closely with whoever is the next President across a range of areas of common interest.

Mr Brown welcomed Mr McCain to 10 Downing Street in March before he was nominated as Republican candidate for the presidency.

News in brief in Pictures

Don't Miss
Victoria Coren: My obsession with children, five proposals a week and why David and I are no power couple

Victoria Coren

David Mitchell and I are no power couple
The Royal Academy of Arts Summer Exhibition preview party

Summer party

Stars at the The Royal Academy of Arts
London gets ready for the Diamond Jubilee - in pictures

Diamond Jubilee

London gets ready - in pictures
The Glamour Awards - stars turn on the style

Glamour Awards

Stars turn on the style
Duchess of Cambridge is pretty in pink at her first Buckingham Palace garden party

Garden party

Duchess of Cambridge is pretty in pink
FIRST review of Ridley Scott's latest sci-fi blockbuster Prometheus

First review

Is Ridley Scott's Prometheus any good?
Fair-weather goths

Fair-weather goths

The sultry shades of summer darks are coming out of the shadows
Dog save the Queen: Corgis surge in popularity

Dog save the Queen

Corgis surge in popularity
'He’s a better ex than he was a husband', says Boris Johnson's ex wife

A better ex than husband

We talk to Boris Johnson's ex wife
TV Baftas - in pictures

Best of the Baftas

Stars on the red, white and blue carpet