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| 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. | |
| The Tory 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. | |
| Mr Brown said he hoped to talk to Mr Obama "very soon", saying his election was of "historical significance". | |
| 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. | |
| 'Rejection' | |
| 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". | |
| This is an important moment not just for America but for the world David CameronConservative leader Live: PM's questionsWhat victory means for the UK | |
| But Mr Brown said the Conservatives had opposed all the policies to support the troubled US economy that Mr Obama had endorsed. | |
| "The truth is that Conservative policy has been rejected in America and in Britain." | |
| 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. | |
| Inspirational | |
| Earlier, the leaders of Britain's three main political parties had all praised Barack Obama's victory in the US presidential election. | |
| Mr Brown said Mr Obama ran an "inspirational campaign, energising politics with progressive values and his vision for the future". | |
| For his part, Mr Cameron called the president-elect the "first of a new generation of world leaders" and Mr Clegg said the US result was "vital to our future". | |
| 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". | |
| Mr Brown, who held talks with Mr Obama in London during the summer, added: "The relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom is vital to our prosperity and security." | |
| Mr Brown said: "I know Barack Obama and we share many values. | Mr Brown 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." |
| He described Mr Obama as "a true friend of Britain" and his election as US president as "a moment that will live in history". | |
| 'Historic moment' | |
| Mr Brown said the special relationship between the UK and the US would be strengthened because he and Barack Obama share common values of liberty and opportunity. | |
| "This is a moment that will live in history as long as history books are written. | |
| "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." | |
| David Cameron reacts to Obama's win | |
| 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". | 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." | 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." |
| Mr Cameron said the US presidential race had been an "exciting and inspirational contest". | Mr Cameron said the US presidential race had been an "exciting and inspirational contest". |
| He said: "In electing Barack Obama, America has made history and proved to the world that it is a nation eager for change. | He said: "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. | "In these difficult times people everywhere are crying out for change. |
| "Barack Obama is the first of a new generation of leaders who will deliver it - he has my whole-hearted congratulations. | "Barack Obama is the first of a new generation of leaders who will deliver it - he has my whole-hearted congratulations. |
| "This is an important moment not just for America but for the world. Barack Obama's victory will give people a new opportunity to look at the United States and see her for what I believe she is - a beacon of opportunity, freedom and democracy." | "This is an important moment not just for America but for the world. Barack Obama's victory will give people a new opportunity to look at the United States and see her for what I believe she is - a beacon of opportunity, freedom and democracy." |
| 'Hopes and expectations' | 'Hopes and expectations' |
| Responding to Mr Obama's victory, Mr Clegg said: "British voters may not have been able to vote in this election, but its outcome is vital to our future | Responding to Mr Obama's victory, Mr Clegg said: "British voters may not have been able to vote in this election, but its outcome is vital to our 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. | "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. |
| This was a victory for optimism over pessimism, for hope over fear Alex Salmond, Scotland First Minister Party time for Americans in UK class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7710376.stm">In quotes: Reaction to US result class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/2008/11/obama_what_they.htmlID=">Nick Robinson on UK reaction to Obama | |
| "The world will not succeed in this era of globalisation without the leadership of the new American President. | "The world will not succeed in this era of globalisation without the leadership of the new American President. |
| "The weight of peoples' hopes and expectations on Barack Obama is immense." | "The weight of peoples' hopes and expectations on Barack Obama is immense." |
| 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 told him. | "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 told him. |
| First Minister for Wales Rhodri Morgan said Barack Obama's "stunning victory represents a triumph of hope over fear". | First Minister for Wales Rhodri Morgan said Barack Obama's "stunning victory represents a triumph of hope over fear". |
| He said Obama now has two months to prepare for the "huge job of translating that hope into improved conditions for jobs and health domestically for America". | He said Obama now has two months to prepare for the "huge job of translating that hope into improved conditions for jobs and health domestically for America". |
| The United States' Ambassador to London, Robert Tuttle, said it had been a great night for democracy and freedom in America. | 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. | "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. |