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Tories query PM's 'Obama praise' Tories query PM's 'Obama praise'
(about 2 hours later)
The Tories have asked Prime Minister Gordon Brown to explain an article he wrote in which he praises US presidential candidate Barack Obama.The Tories have asked Prime Minister Gordon Brown to explain an article he wrote in which he praises US presidential candidate Barack Obama.
He wrote that the Democrats were coming up with ideas to help people through "more difficult times" and praised Mr Obama's "foreclosure prevention fund".He wrote that the Democrats were coming up with ideas to help people through "more difficult times" and praised Mr Obama's "foreclosure prevention fund".
A member of Mr McCain's team contacted the British Embassy in Washington DC to express concern about the article.
Downing Street said the prime minister was not backing Mr Obama.
It said he was just highlighting centre left parties' responses to economic crises.
British prime ministers traditionally do not back one candidate over another.British prime ministers traditionally do not back one candidate over another.
Downing Street said he was not backing Mr Obama, just highlighting centre left parties' responses to economic crises.
In an article for Monitor - a Parliamentary magazine - Mr Brown wrote about people's concerns about the housing slump, adding: "Around the world, it is progressive politicians who are grappling with these challenges.In an article for Monitor - a Parliamentary magazine - Mr Brown wrote about people's concerns about the housing slump, adding: "Around the world, it is progressive politicians who are grappling with these challenges.
'Responsible''Responsible'
"In the electrifying US presidential campaign, it is the Democrats who are generating the ideas to help people through more difficult times. To help prevent people from losing their home, Barack Obama has proposed a Foreclosure Prevention Fund to increase emergency pre-foreclosure counselling, and help families facing repossession.""In the electrifying US presidential campaign, it is the Democrats who are generating the ideas to help people through more difficult times. To help prevent people from losing their home, Barack Obama has proposed a Foreclosure Prevention Fund to increase emergency pre-foreclosure counselling, and help families facing repossession."
He does not mention Mr Obama's Republican rival, John McCain.He does not mention Mr Obama's Republican rival, John McCain.
The BBC has confirmed that a representative of Mr McCain's team contacted the British Embassy in Washington DC to express concern about the article.
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague suggested Mr Brown should not have written the comments.Shadow foreign secretary William Hague suggested Mr Brown should not have written the comments.
The PM is not endorsing a candidate, and never would Downing Street spokesmanThe PM is not endorsing a candidate, and never would Downing Street spokesman
He said: "A responsible British prime minister needs to be ready to work with either presidential candidate after the US election, and should neither take sides nor be seen to be taking sides.He said: "A responsible British prime minister needs to be ready to work with either presidential candidate after the US election, and should neither take sides nor be seen to be taking sides.
"Gordon Brown needs to make clear why he appeared to be favouring the Democrats in this article and to explain whether this was his deliberate intention or a careless mistake.""Gordon Brown needs to make clear why he appeared to be favouring the Democrats in this article and to explain whether this was his deliberate intention or a careless mistake."
But Downing Street denied that Mr Brown was taking sides in the US election and said he had met Mr McCain in London and the US this year, as he had Mr Obama.But Downing Street denied that Mr Brown was taking sides in the US election and said he had met Mr McCain in London and the US this year, as he had Mr Obama.
"The PM is not endorsing a candidate, and never would," said the spokesman."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."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.
"This was an article written ahead of the party conferences in Britain and talks about some of the measures being taken around the world by centre-left political parties to deal with the current global economic challenges.""This was an article written ahead of the party conferences in Britain and talks about some of the measures being taken around the world by centre-left political parties to deal with the current global economic challenges."