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Tories query PM's 'Obama praise' Brown rejects Obama bias claims
(about 5 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. Gordon Brown has rejected suggestions he endorsed Barack Obama's US presidential candidacy in an article.
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". The prime minister, who praised the Democrat's policies in the piece, said he had "admiration" for both Obama and his Republican rival, John McCain.
A member of Mr McCain's team contacted the British Embassy in Washington DC to express concern about the article. Mr Brown told a press conference it was for the American people to decide on their next president.
Downing Street said the prime minister was not backing Mr Obama. The Tories have said Mr Brown should explain the comments in his article and not be seen to be "taking sides".
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.
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. 'Great admirer'
'Responsible' In the article for The Monitor, a Parliamentary magazine, Mr Brown wrote of concerns about the housing slump, adding: "Around the world, it is progressive politicians who are grappling with these challenges.
"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 did not mention Mr McCain.
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague suggested Mr Brown should not have written the comments. 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 William HagueShadow foreign secretary
The PM is not endorsing a candidate, and never would Downing Street spokesman Asked about the comments at a press conference earlier, Mr Brown said: "The decision on the American election is a matter entirely for the American people and I have scrupulously met both Senator McCain and Senator Obama and talked to them both about the issue that affect our two countries and the future of global issues."
He said he had met both in Washington and London and had enjoyed his conversations with them adding: "I'm a great admirer of both of these distinguished senators" and he was "proud" to know them both.
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague, for the Conservatives, said Mr Brown should not have written the comments.
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.
"The PM is not endorsing a candidate, and never would," said the spokesman. A spokesman said it was simply "an article written ahead of the party conferences in Britain" which "talks about some of the measures being taken around the world by centre-left political parties to deal with the current global economic challenges".
"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."