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Obama praises Brown's 'integrity' Obama praises Brown's 'integrity'
(41 minutes later)
Barack Obama has praised Gordon Brown's "integrity" as the two men vowed to work together to tackle the "unprecedented" global recession.Barack Obama has praised Gordon Brown's "integrity" as the two men vowed to work together to tackle the "unprecedented" global recession.
Speaking after two hours of talks the US president said there was "enormous consensus" on tackling the crisis.Speaking after two hours of talks the US president said there was "enormous consensus" on tackling the crisis.
And he rejected talk of splits ahead of Thursday's G20 summit.And he rejected talk of splits ahead of Thursday's G20 summit.
Asked what advice he had for Mr Brown about winning elections, Mr Obama said that whatever the problems faced, "good policy" would win out "over time".Asked what advice he had for Mr Brown about winning elections, Mr Obama said that whatever the problems faced, "good policy" would win out "over time".
The two men appeared relaxed as they faced reporters in Downing Street, with Mr Brown praising Mr Obama's presidency as giving "renewed hope" to the world.The two men appeared relaxed as they faced reporters in Downing Street, with Mr Brown praising Mr Obama's presidency as giving "renewed hope" to the world.
Mr Obama hailed the "special relationship" between Britain and the UK and the "kinship" he felt with Great Britain.Mr Obama hailed the "special relationship" between Britain and the UK and the "kinship" he felt with Great Britain.
'Great symmetry''Great symmetry'
Both men played down reports of a rift between different countries on the best way to rescue the world economy.Both men played down reports of a rift between different countries on the best way to rescue the world economy.
Mr Brown said: "President Obama and I are agreed about the significance of this week's G20 meeting that the world is coming together to act in the face of unprecedented global financial times."Mr Brown said: "President Obama and I are agreed about the significance of this week's G20 meeting that the world is coming together to act in the face of unprecedented global financial times."
He rejected reports French President Nicholas Sarkozy was ready to walk out of Thursday's summit, telling reporters in Downing Street: "We are within a few hours of agreeing a global plan for economic recovery and reform."He rejected reports French President Nicholas Sarkozy was ready to walk out of Thursday's summit, telling reporters in Downing Street: "We are within a few hours of agreeing a global plan for economic recovery and reform."
G20 LONDON SUMMIT World leaders are meeting this week in London to discuss measures to tackle the downturn. See our in-depth guide to the G20 summit.The G20 countries are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the UK, the US and the EU.G20 LONDON SUMMIT World leaders are meeting this week in London to discuss measures to tackle the downturn. See our in-depth guide to the G20 summit.The G20 countries are Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, Turkey, the UK, the US and the EU.
Mr Obama said there had been "great symmetry" between the US and UK in their discussions on the best way to deal with the economic crisis.Mr Obama said there had been "great symmetry" between the US and UK in their discussions on the best way to deal with the economic crisis.
"I am absolutely confident that the United States as a peer of these other countries will help to lead us through these very difficult times.""I am absolutely confident that the United States as a peer of these other countries will help to lead us through these very difficult times."
He said he and wife Michelle were greatly looking forward to meeting the Queen, whose "decency and civility" were important to people across the US.He said he and wife Michelle were greatly looking forward to meeting the Queen, whose "decency and civility" were important to people across the US.
'Good politics' 'Appalling debt'
But he stopped short of wishing the England football team good luck in its World Cup qualifier against Ukraine, saying: "The last thing I'm going to do is wade into European football. That would be a mistake. I didn't get a briefing on that, but I think that would be a mistake."But he stopped short of wishing the England football team good luck in its World Cup qualifier against Ukraine, saying: "The last thing I'm going to do is wade into European football. That would be a mistake. I didn't get a briefing on that, but I think that would be a mistake."
Asked what advice he had for Mr Brown on winning elections, he said: "Over time good policy is good politics". Asked what advice he had for Mr Brown on winning elections, he said: "Over time good policy is good politics."
He told Mr Brown to continue showing "integrity" and to be sure that "every day you are waking up and making the very best decisions that you can despite the fact that sometimes the cards in your hand are not very good and the options are narrow".He told Mr Brown to continue showing "integrity" and to be sure that "every day you are waking up and making the very best decisions that you can despite the fact that sometimes the cards in your hand are not very good and the options are narrow".
Once the talks are over, Britain will still be left with the most appalling public debt David Cameron, Conservative leader
The president will also meet Tory leader David Cameron and he is due to meet the Queen at Buckingham Palace.The president will also meet Tory leader David Cameron and he is due to meet the Queen at Buckingham Palace.
Mr Obama and wife Michelle were greeted earlier in Downing Street by Gordon Brown and wife Sarah. Ahead of his meeting Mr Cameron welcomed the Obamas' visit to Britain at prime ministers' questions in the Commons, but pressed Mr Brown to use the G20 summit to persuade America to restart the Doha world trade round.
President Obama and the UK prime minister held breakfast talks as efforts continue to ensure agreement is reached at the G20 summit. He also accused the prime minister of failing to lead by example on Britain's public finances.
Applause was audible from Downing Street staff as Mr Obama, who was making Britain the first country outside North America he has visited as president, entered the building. "Once the talks are over, Britain will still be left with the most appalling public debt," he told Mr Brown, adding: "We should never leave Britain this exposed again."
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg welcomed G20 discussions on tax havens but said the prime minister had presided over "industrial scale tax avoidance in British banks and British businesses".
Tight securityTight security
Mr Brown will also hold talks at Number 10 with Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh, Chinese president Hu Jintao and Japanese prime minister Taro Aso as he seeks to finalise the details of the G20 communique, which has been the subject of intensive behind-the scenes negotiation over the past few weeks. Mr Brown said the G20 were on the "verge of an agreement" that would mean that every country would have to give information on their tax haven status.
Mr Brown is due to hold talks at Number 10 with Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh, Chinese president Hu Jintao and Japanese prime minister Taro Aso as he seeks to finalise the details of the G20 communique, which has been the subject of intensive behind-the scenes negotiation over the past few weeks.
World leaders are gathering in London to discuss ways to resolve the worst financial crisis since the 1930s. The summit takes place amid tight security and police warnings of "unprecedented" levels of protest.World leaders are gathering in London to discuss ways to resolve the worst financial crisis since the 1930s. The summit takes place amid tight security and police warnings of "unprecedented" levels of protest.
Workers in London's financial district have been told to dress down and stay at home to avoid provoking demonstrators.Workers in London's financial district have been told to dress down and stay at home to avoid provoking demonstrators.
The two-day summit officially begins on Wednesday evening as the leaders from the G20, which groups the world's most powerful economies, attend a reception with the Queen at Buckingham Palace.The two-day summit officially begins on Wednesday evening as the leaders from the G20, which groups the world's most powerful economies, attend a reception with the Queen at Buckingham Palace.
The G20 summit will be crucial for Gordon Brown, whose reputation for economic competence has been battered by the financial crisis.The G20 summit will be crucial for Gordon Brown, whose reputation for economic competence has been battered by the financial crisis.
He has sought to lead the drive for a global approach to the crisis and the meeting is an opportunity to restore his image as a competent economic manager.He has sought to lead the drive for a global approach to the crisis and the meeting is an opportunity to restore his image as a competent economic manager.
Dinner guestsDinner guests
But it is unlikely to be smooth sailing. French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde has already said France would walk out of the summit if its demands for stricter rules are not met. Mr Obama and wife Michelle were earlier greeted in Downing Street by Gordon Brown and wife Sarah.
As Mr Brown and Mr Obama met, French President Nicolas Sarkozy told Europe 1 radio the measures currently on the table were not acceptable to either his country or Germany and that he would not tolerate "false compromises" at the summit. Mrs Brown is hosting a dinner for the G20 spouses at 10 Downing Street, at the same time and with the same menu as the leaders' banquet at Buckingham Palace.
Sarah Brown is hosting a dinner for the G20 spouses at 10 Downing Street, at the same time and with the same menu as the leaders' banquet at Buckingham Palace.
Mrs Obama will be seated between Harry Potter author JK Rowling and Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes.Mrs Obama will be seated between Harry Potter author JK Rowling and Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes.
Rowling is a longstanding Labour supporter who donated £1m to the party last year while Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly was one of London's ambassadors in the successful bid to host the 2012 Olympics.Rowling is a longstanding Labour supporter who donated £1m to the party last year while Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly was one of London's ambassadors in the successful bid to host the 2012 Olympics.
Other guests will include supermodel Naomi Campbell, Martha Lane Fox, founder of the website lastminute.com and a trustee of legal action charity Reprieve, Paralympian Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, Bend It Like Beckham film director Gurinder Chadha, Gavin and Stacey actress actress Ruth Jones, psychologist Tanya Byron and broadcaster Emma Freud.Other guests will include supermodel Naomi Campbell, Martha Lane Fox, founder of the website lastminute.com and a trustee of legal action charity Reprieve, Paralympian Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, Bend It Like Beckham film director Gurinder Chadha, Gavin and Stacey actress actress Ruth Jones, psychologist Tanya Byron and broadcaster Emma Freud.
The menu has been prepared by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver and will feature seasonal produce including Welsh lamb, Jersey Royal new potatoes and asparagus.The menu has been prepared by celebrity chef Jamie Oliver and will feature seasonal produce including Welsh lamb, Jersey Royal new potatoes and asparagus.