March 04, 2009

UK: Mr Brown Goes To Washington

Apparently the British press aren't too happy about the reception Gordon Brown received at the WH

Barack Obama lavished praise on the 'special relationship' between Britain and America last night - but only after giving Gordon Brown a distinctly muted reception.

The Prime Minister's first official meeting with the new President fell short of the lavish welcomes laid on in recent years[...]

But there was no family get-together, nor did the President offer Mr Brown and his wife Sarah a star-studded White House dinner.

And instead of the traditional joint press conference, the Prime Minister was instead given an impromptu media briefing in the Oval Office.

Within minutes of landing in a snowbound Washington on Monday night, Mr Brown's aides had been made aware that their high expectations for the trip were in danger of exceeding the low-key welcome the Obama administration was prepared to offer.

Suggestions that the new President's crowded diary made it impossible to give more time to Mr Brown rang hollow after it emerged that his other engagements included a routine speech to the Department for Interior and a meeting with the Boy Scouts of America.

The bust of Winston Churchill, which Obama returned to Britain, was mentioned:
Over Mr Brown's shoulder was another reminder of the change in Britain's influence in the Oval Office.

A bronze bust of Abraham Lincoln, the 19th century president Mr Obama considers his political hero, now sits where a bust of Winston Churchill previously held pride of place.

As one of his first gestures, the President had the Churchill sculpture - loaned to George Bush by Tony Blair - given back to Britain.

It must have surprised PM Brown how Obama gave him the "cold shoulder", after all he publicly backed Obama during the elections.

Karma Mr Brown, karma.

By Stable Hand at 12:48 AM | |