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Brown and Cameron in Obama clash Brown and Cameron in Obama clash
(about 5 hours later)
Gordon Brown and David Cameron have clashed in the Commons over the reasons for Barack Obama's US election victory.Gordon Brown and David Cameron have clashed in the Commons over the reasons for Barack Obama's US election victory.
The Conservative leader said the change offered by Mr Obama contrasted with Labour's offer of "more of the same".The Conservative leader said the change offered by Mr Obama contrasted with Labour's offer of "more of the same".
He also taunted Mr Brown over his recent claim that with the economic crisis "this was no time for a novice".
The prime minister said Mr Obama had triumphed because he was a "serious man for serious times" and embodied "progressive" values shared by Labour.The prime minister said Mr Obama had triumphed because he was a "serious man for serious times" and embodied "progressive" values shared by Labour.
Mr Brown said he hoped to talk to Mr Obama "very soon", saying his election was of "historical significance". Earlier both men and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg had united in praise of the Democrat Mr Obama's victory.
'Rejection'
The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said both parties wanted to associate themselves with the factors behind Mr Obama's success and absorb some of the political magic he displayed on the campaign trail.The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said both parties wanted to associate themselves with the factors behind Mr Obama's success and absorb some of the political magic he displayed on the campaign trail.
In the Commons, Mr Brown said he hoped to talk to Mr Obama "very soon", saying his election was of "historical significance".
'Rejection'
But Mr Cameron taunted him with a line the PM used in his Labour conference speech, saying: "I read this morning that you had sent a message to the President-elect. Presumably it wasn't: 'This is no time for a novice".'
After Mr Obama's victory, which he said had restored America's status as a "beacon of hope", Mr Cameron said British voters were now entitled to know "how much longer they have to put up with more of the same from this government that's failed".After Mr Obama's victory, which he said had restored America's status as a "beacon of hope", Mr Cameron said British voters were now entitled to know "how much longer they have to put up with more of the same from this government that's failed".
Mr Brown said the Conservatives had opposed all the policies to support the troubled US economy that Mr Obama had endorsed and added the "only change they represent is that they change their minds every week".
In electing Barack Obama, America has made history and proved to the world that it is a nation eager for change David CameronConservative leader In full: Brown vs CameronIn electing Barack Obama, America has made history and proved to the world that it is a nation eager for change David CameronConservative leader In full: Brown vs Cameron
But Mr Brown said the Conservatives had opposed all the policies to support the troubled US economy that Mr Obama had endorsed.
Attacking the Conservatives, he added that the "only change they represent is that they change their minds every week".
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg challenged Mr Brown to follow Mr Obama's pledge to cut taxes for those on low and middle incomes, adding that he had failed to "learn" from the senator's popularity.Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg challenged Mr Brown to follow Mr Obama's pledge to cut taxes for those on low and middle incomes, adding that he had failed to "learn" from the senator's popularity.
Earlier, the leaders of Britain's three main political parties had all praised Barack Obama's victory in the US presidential election. Earlier, the leaders of Britain's three main political parties had all praised Barack Obama's victory in the US presidential election. Mr Brown and Mr Cameron also paid tribute to the Republican candidate, senator John McCain.
Inspirational The prime minister, who met Mr Obama in London during the summer, said he was a "true friend of Britain" who shared "many values" with the him.
Mr Brown also paid tribute to the Republican candidate, senator John McCain, saying that he had fought "a good campaign and has shown the characteristic dignity that has marked a lifetime of service to his country".
The prime minister, who met Mr Obama in London during the summer, said: "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.""We both have determination to show that government can act to help people fairly through these difficult times facing the global economy."
Inspirational
He said the election was "a moment that will live in history as long as history books are written".He said the election was "a moment that will live in history as long as history books are written".
David Cameron reacts to Obama's win
"I've talked to Senator Obama on many occasions and I know that he is a true friend of Britain and I know that the values that we share in common and the policies on which we can work together will enable us as two countries to come through these difficult economic times and build a safer and more secure society for the future."
Higher education minister David Lammy, who knows Mr Obama after meeting him at a Harvard alumni event in 2005, told the BBC the election of the first black American president was a "watershed moment in history".
He said: "Martin Luther King's dream was that people would be judged not by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character. Today, Dr King's dream has come true."
Bush era
Mr Cameron said the US presidential race had been an "inspirational contest" and Mr Obama's victory meant people would across the world would see the US "for what I believe she is - a beacon of opportunity, freedom and democracy".Mr Cameron said the US presidential race had been an "inspirational contest" and Mr Obama's victory meant people would across the world would see the US "for what I believe she is - a beacon of opportunity, freedom and democracy".
He said: "In electing Barack Obama, America has made history and proved to the world that it is a nation eager for change. Offering his "wholehearted congratulations" he added: "In electing Barack Obama, America has made history and proved to the world that it is a nation eager for change."
"In these difficult times people everywhere are crying out for change.
This was a victory for optimism over pessimism, for hope over fear Alex Salmond, Scotland First Minister Party time for Americans in UKIn quotes: Reaction to US resultNick Robinson on UK reactionThis was a victory for optimism over pessimism, for hope over fear Alex Salmond, Scotland First Minister Party time for Americans in UKIn quotes: Reaction to US resultNick Robinson on UK reaction
"Barack Obama is the first of a new generation of leaders who will deliver it - he has my whole-hearted congratulations." Mr Clegg said Mr Obama must take a "radical new approach" on climate change, the economy and international security issues, adding: "The weight of peoples' hopes and expectations on Barack Obama is immense."
Mr Clegg said the outcome was vital to Britain's future: "Climate change, the global economy, and threats to our collective security now demand a radical new approach by Barack Obama, leaving the Bush era firmly behind. Later International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander told the BBC the "statesmanlike words" at the start of the day, and later clash over the reasons for his victory was a "very British welcome".
"The world will not succeed in this era of globalisation without the leadership of the new American president. He said politicians would be trying to interpret the results - which he saw as a "huge victory for progressive politics".
"The weight of peoples' hopes and expectations on Barack Obama is immense." 'Personal chemistry'
Foreign Secretary David Miliband and his Tory counterpart William Hague were also at odds over what parallels could be drawn from Mr Obama's victory.
Mr Miliband agreed governments that offered only the "status quo" would not be re-elected but said Labour had renewed itself under Gordon Brown - most recently in the way he had dealt with the economic crisis.
"I don't think Gordon Brown is John McCain and I certainly don't think that David Cameron is Barack Obama," he said.
David Cameron reacts to Obama's win
Mr Hague however said there had been "great personal chemistry" between Mr Obama and Mr Cameron at a meeting in July.
He said while they were at "different positions on the political spectrum", Tony Blair and George Bush and John F Kennedy and Harold MacMillan had worked together "at the height of Anglo-American co-operation".
"I believe that could happen under David Cameron and Barack Obama," he said.
Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond sent a message to Mr Obama offering his "heartfelt congratulations" on a "wonderful and historic" election victory.Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond sent a message to Mr Obama offering his "heartfelt congratulations" on a "wonderful and historic" election victory.
"It ushers in a new era of hope for the United States and its role in the world. This was a victory for optimism over pessimism, for hope over fear," he said."It ushers in a new era of hope for the United States and its role in the world. This was a victory for optimism over pessimism, for hope over fear," he said.
First Minister for Wales Rhodri Morgan said it was a "stunning victory" and that Mr Obama now had two months to prepare for the "huge job of translating that hope into improved conditions for jobs and health domestically for America".First Minister for Wales Rhodri Morgan said it was a "stunning victory" and that Mr Obama now had two months to prepare for the "huge job of translating that hope into improved conditions for jobs and health domestically for America".
Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness also congratulated the president-elect.Northern Ireland's First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness also congratulated the president-elect.
Mr Robinson said Mr Obama's success was an historic event and he looked forward to working with him to continue "the mutually beneficial relationship that Northern Ireland has developed with the United States over the years." Mr Robinson said Mr Obama's success was an historic event. Mr McGuinness said he looked forward to "developing and deepening our economic and cultural interests with the US" and offered his "sincerest congratulations".
Mr McGuinness said he looked forward to "developing and deepening our economic and cultural interests with the US" and offered his "sincerest congratulations".
The United States' Ambassador to London, Robert Tuttle, said it had been a great night for democracy and freedom in America.
"I always thought until last night that the most exciting election that I'd ever seen was Kennedy versus Nixon in 1960 but it was far eclipsed by last night," he said.