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Brown and Cameron clash over who is the closest to Obama
Nicholas Cecil, Chief Political Correspondent05.11.08
GORDON BROWN and David Cameron clashed fiercely in the Commons today as both tried to claim Barack Obama's victory would help them win the next general election.
The Prime Minister claimed Mr Obama's triumph was based on “progressive policies” similar to Labour's action on the banking crisis, the minimum wage and its emphasis on government regulation.
But Mr Cameron said Americans had voted for change and Britons also wanted a new regime to make a fresh start in tackling the recession.
The Tory leader was withering about Mr Brown's decision not to call a snap election last autumn, as well as his recent claim that a recession was no time for a novice.
He told Labour MPs: “You've made your strategic choice. It's called more of the same and it's sitting in front of you. You killed change when you bottled that election and you buried change when you appointed Peter Mandelson. I read this morning that the Prime Minister has sent a message to the president-elect. Presumably, it wasn't 'this is no time for a novice.'”
Mr Brown countered: “What I said was that serious times need serious people.'”
To Labour cheers, the Prime Minister added that Mr Cameron had changed his stance on borrowing to combat the recession in recent weeks. “The only change that they [the Conservatives] represent is that they change their minds every week,” he said.
At Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Brown told MPs he sent his “sincere congratulations” to the US president-elect, who would be a “true friend to Britain”.
Mr Cameron also congratulated Mr Obama on his “stunning victory” but insisted Mr Brown, in contrast, could not provide “the change people want” in this country.
Tory MPs chanted: “Change! change!” as they tried to shout down Mr Brown, who countered: “The truth is that the Conservative Party policies are rejected in America and in Britain.”
He added: “I know Barack Obama and we share many values. We both have determination to show that government can act to help people fairly through these difficult times facing the global economy.”
London's Mayor Boris Johnson welcomed the US election result, saying: “Barack Obama is unquestionably the right man for the job. This election will restore the faith of all those who believe in America.”
And around the world political leaders paid tribute to the president-elect. French president Nicolas Sarkozy said: “At a time when we must face huge challenges together, your election has raised enormous hope in France, in Europe and beyond.”
German chancellor Angela Merkel said Europe and the United States would work together “in a spirit of mutual trust.”
In Afghanistan, president Hamid Karzai hailed a “new era”. He added: “I applaud the American people for their great decision.”
But the war which faces Mr Obama carried on, with a US airstrike near Kandahar in which dozens of women and children were feared dead.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said he hoped Mr Obama would “make a choice in favour of full-fledged relations with Russia”.
Iran's government-run daily paper said: “Defeat for Republicans is the price they pay for Bush's strategic and tactical blunders.”
Reader views (20)
Obama has inspired his countrymen, and inspiring not the adjective I would apply to any of our dreary hacks of a political class.
- Dave Morris, Sunderland
Alex Lisinge, Putney.
Cameron is not being hypocritical in expressing his admiration for an Obama win and he in no way devalues his relationship with McCain by offering his congratulations to a President Elect, with whom he will soon be working with as Prime Minister. As far as your invitation to Cameron joining the Labour Party is concerned, get real, your understanding of Politics really is limited to cheap cracks at the Tories.
- John E., Northants
They really inspire don't thay,the state of British politics.One thing that's become so clear witnessing the American elections how so dull and uninspiring are the British politicians.God help us.Lions lead by donkeys is the phrase that springs to mind.
- Kev, London
How could the President elect consider Cameron when the country has just spent an agonizing 8 years under a Conservative Government
- Er Reed, san bruno,USA
Its like being back in the playground with all the weirdoes wanting to be friends with the most popular child in the class - both Brown and Cameron are pathetic, this 'fighting' is going to get them both noticed for the wrong reasons (how the Americans must be laughing at us now caught between a rock and a hard place with these fools). I suspect it will be decades before we have such an inspiration leader.
- Andy, London
"he's my friend"
"no he's my friend"
Now now, boys, stop waving your bits!!! play nicely - or even better get on with the job.
- Jc, SE1
Bob, London
It is not the end of the story. Blair repeated many times that he will stay for the full term, gets elected, breaks promise egged on behind by Brown, who straight walked in to PM's seat. WE do not elect a PM but we do not let an MP assume prime ministership because he wanted to. In Major's case, Thatcher resigned and there was an election in the Tory party. Nothing happened like that in Labour.
Further he has no legitimacy in England as a Scottish MP as Scotland is devolved. He seems to hate election even it is in his Party!
- Norman, London
Gordon Brown is elected; but he is only the puppet whose strings are being pulled by the trio of Mandy, Alistair and Tony. Gordon`s makeover will not last, grumpy Gordon will soon return. We need a real change in this country and the sooner Gordon goes the better. We are in debt over and above our heads and into two wars in which we will never ever win. The number people who turned out in America to vote Obama in was phenomenal. I just hope the same happens in this country and this bunch of useless and inept characters are voted out before they do more damage. Nothing in this country functions as it used to. Labour has squandered billions for little or no return. Voters are well and truly feed up with being taken for a ride. Gordon should look to America to see how Tony`s mate, George Bush, was disposed of in short order and the same hopefully will happen to him.
- Brian Gare, Gorleston Norfolk
How can any person with average critical facilities take Brown seriously? He created the whirlwind as Chancellor of the Exchequer for a decade, now he claims he, and only he, knows how to fix the mess he created. He had his turn and look at the reulting shambles.
As for "working closely with Obama" yeah, right!
- Kiwi Expat, London, UK
Don't worry. It's a bit like taking your dog to the park - you'll always get a multitude of other dogs sniffing around just to make sure that your pooch's hat is on straight!
- John, Leighton Buzzard, Beds
I would like to remind M, London, and Norman, London, that "unelected Brown" was elected! He is an elected MP, the Labour party is in power and the Queen agreed. End of story. You all need to stop watching the USA elections, Big Brother and X Factor as it doesn't and never has worked like that here. * We don't elect a PM! *
- Bob, London
Are these two trying to prove who is the bigger sycophant? If I were Obama I would tell the pair of them to get off their knees and stop grovelling.
- Neil, Gloucestershire, England.
Please Cameron don't be a Hypocrite. Have you forgotten that not long ago you invited Senator McCain to speak in the conservative conference because of your similarities. Please be a man don't disown your pal McCain. Obama stands for labour values. If you want to join the labour party , we won't mind if you chane your values.
- Alex Lisinge, Putney London
It's time for Change in Britain too!- Brown is part of the past!- A political operator and manipulator, an opportunist with no integrity and part of the "do as I say' not "say as I do" brigade - Britain has the biggest budget deficit in the developed world and it's people have become the highest taxed of any developed nation - Brown is un-elected
- He has returned to office the discredited and un-elected for his own ends . He has sold off our gold reserves against all the advise of the experts - He has played political stunts with the 10p tax rate, enviromental taxes, fuel taxes and has consistently shown himself to have poor judgement on just about every single subject he has come to address- Renaeging on the referendum on Lisbon, lying about the election that never was, pulling stunts with troop numbers in Iraq yet never accepting responsibility for having sent them there - As Hilary Clinton found out to her peril, people are sick of professional politicians with a sense of entilement - We want change! - We want leaders with integrity, humility, who have had real jobs in the real world, who know what it's like to have to earn their own money - It's time that the British people can call for a general election, not Gordon Brown. It's time for the British Political class to be put on notice, Britain wants the same sweeping change as America- We want to be proud of our democracy too. We want to be able to say God Bless Britain and God Bless our democracy!
- Des Stewart, Los Angeles
If Obama has any sense he will steer clear of the unelected Broon, the man has the stench of despair and failure on him and will only drag down anything he comes in contact with. Besides was it not Broon that said it not a time for novices? I suppose the perennial liar will twist the recorded quote and say he meant tory novices or something...
- M, London
I would like to remind unelected Brown that the sole supepower and the greatest economy in the world has elected a 'novice' in 'these difficult times' after voters listened to the voice of 'change' coming from this 'novice'. Another 'novice' here will utter the same powerful word' change' whe the next election comes. Brown should be consigned to history after 11 years of wrecking the economy and making Britain the most densely populated country in Europe through unchecked immigration.
- Norman, LONDON
"Brown intends working closely with Obama". Oh, that's good, but shouldn't he wait to find out what Obama's plans are first before he starts shouting his agreement. I don't think anybody knows yet what is on the menu.
- Jilly,, London
"GORDON Brown today vowed to work "extremely closely" with Barack Obama"; Yes until Brown and Labour are booted out just like the Republicans. Time for change!
- Brandon Thomas, London UK
So, Brown 'vowed to work "extremely closely" with Barack Obama'.
What other option does he have? Working 'extremely closely' with Mandelson?
And 'these difficult times' were made all the more 'difficult' by Brown himself.
- Chuck Unsworth, London
If Obama has any sense he'll steer clear of Britain and this scots buffoon.He's got enough on his plate as it is.
- Steve, London
