Gordon Brown has congratulated Barack Obama on his election victory and said they would work together to get Britain and the US out of the economic downturn.
Speaking from Number 10, the prime minister said: “I have just sent my warmest congratulations to Senator Obama on his election as president of the United States of America and I have also sent my best wishes to Michelle and his family. This is a moment that will live in history as long as history books are written.”
He added: “I know that the values we share in common and the policies we work on together will enable us, these two countries, to come through these difficult economic times and build a safer and more secure society for the future.”
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He said he shared common goals with Obama to lead both the US and UK out of recession. “I think what we and Senator Obama and his policies have in common is that we want to help hard-working families through this difficult economic time.”
Some commentators have said Obama’s victory could be down to the success of positive or affirmative action in raising the profile of women and people from ethnic minorities within the workplace and government.