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PM will 'work closely' with Obama PM will 'work closely' with Obama
(about 2 hours later)
Gordon Brown says he will work closely with the new US administration on the economy and the environment. Gordon Brown has told ministers he intends to work closely with the new US administration on issues from the Middle East to the economic crisis.
The PM told the cabinet they shared many values and policy approaches with in-coming president Barack Obama.The PM told the cabinet they shared many values and policy approaches with in-coming president Barack Obama.
Asked if he would be watching the event Mr Brown's spokesman said the PM had a very busy day and would be getting on with the job of running the country. Asked if he would be watching the event Mr Brown's spokesman said the PM had a very busy day.
But the PM "would try to find an opportunity to listen to some or all of it... live or later in the day". But he said the PM "would try to find an opportunity to listen to some or all of it... live or later in the day".
The spokesman also dismissed suggestions there were concerns about whether or not Mr Brown would not be the first European leader to meet Mr Obama. Mr Brown told cabinet ministers he aimed to work closely with the new president on issues including the Middle East peace process, Iraq, Afghanistan and the economy. He also said Mr Obama's administration shared "a very similar view on the role of the environment".
Letter 'Froth'
His spokesman added that Mr Brown had said "the government shared many of the same values of President Obama and his team, and is adopting a very similar approach to the positions that the incoming president has been setting out on some of the big global challenges that we face".
He dismissed suggestions there were concerns about whether or not Mr Brown would not be the first European leader to meet Mr Obama.
It is a tremendously exciting moment for people all over the world William HagueConservatives
He said what was important were shared values, not what meetings had been arranged and pointed out former French president Jacques Chirac had met President Bush before Tony Blair.He said what was important were shared values, not what meetings had been arranged and pointed out former French president Jacques Chirac had met President Bush before Tony Blair.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband also dismissed suggestions of a race between European leaders, telling BBC Radio 4's World at One programme: "After the froth of the next couple of months with all those allegations flying around about who's first on the plane, you will see in a few months' time that the strengths and the assets Britain brings to its relationship with the United States, deep relationships that go beyond one administration - stand us in very good stead to work with the Obama administration in a very positive way".
Mr Brown met Mr Obama last July at Downing Street during the then presidential candidate's European tour. Mr Obama also met former PM Tony Blair and Conservative leader David Cameron on the trip.Mr Brown met Mr Obama last July at Downing Street during the then presidential candidate's European tour. Mr Obama also met former PM Tony Blair and Conservative leader David Cameron on the trip.
'Many challenges'
British politicians have argued over what his election means - in the first prime minister's questions after the result was declared, Mr Cameron suggested it meant voters wanted change, while Mr Brown said he embodied "progressive" values shared by Labour.British politicians have argued over what his election means - in the first prime minister's questions after the result was declared, Mr Cameron suggested it meant voters wanted change, while Mr Brown said he embodied "progressive" values shared by Labour.
On Tuesday the prime minister's spokesman said Mr Brown would be writing to President Obama to congratulate him on his election and assuring him that Britain "stands ready to work very closely with his administration on many of the international challenges that we face".On Tuesday the prime minister's spokesman said Mr Brown would be writing to President Obama to congratulate him on his election and assuring him that Britain "stands ready to work very closely with his administration on many of the international challenges that we face".
Huge crowds are expected to pack Washington's National Mall as the new president takes the oath of office at 1200 (1700 GMT). His speech is expected to focus on responsibility and accountability.Huge crowds are expected to pack Washington's National Mall as the new president takes the oath of office at 1200 (1700 GMT). His speech is expected to focus on responsibility and accountability.
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said the inauguration was "a tremendously exciting moment for people all over the world".
He added: "An inauguration is a momentous political event anyway but when it is the first black president in history, when it is an orator of the quality of Barack Obama - as I'm sure we'll see from his speech - and when the challenges in the world are so immense, it is a particularly momentous time."