This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/6898587.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| US and UK 'no longer inseparable' | US and UK 'no longer inseparable' |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| One of Gordon Brown's new ministers has said the UK and the United States would no longer be "joined at the hip" on foreign policy. | One of Gordon Brown's new ministers has said the UK and the United States would no longer be "joined at the hip" on foreign policy. |
| Lord Mark Malloch Brown told the Daily Telegraph it was time for a more "impartial" foreign policy and to build relationships with European leaders. | Lord Mark Malloch Brown told the Daily Telegraph it was time for a more "impartial" foreign policy and to build relationships with European leaders. |
| Some analysts may consider the Foreign Office minister's remarks evidence of Labour distancing itself from the US. | Some analysts may consider the Foreign Office minister's remarks evidence of Labour distancing itself from the US. |
| Earlier, Downing Street denied another minister had criticised the US. | Earlier, Downing Street denied another minister had criticised the US. |
| International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander warned in a speech against unilateralism and called for an "internationalist approach" to global problems. | International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander warned in a speech against unilateralism and called for an "internationalist approach" to global problems. |
| New links | |
| Lord Malloch Brown's newspaper interview was his first since being appointed Foreign Office minister. | Lord Malloch Brown's newspaper interview was his first since being appointed Foreign Office minister. |
| You need to build coalitions that are lateral, which go beyond the bilateral blinkers of the normal partners Lord Malloch Brown | You need to build coalitions that are lateral, which go beyond the bilateral blinkers of the normal partners Lord Malloch Brown |
| He used to be deputy secretary general at the United Nations and is a known critic of the Iraq war. | He used to be deputy secretary general at the United Nations and is a known critic of the Iraq war. |
| "It is very unlikely that the Brown-Bush relationship is going to go through the baptism of fire and therefore be joined together at the hip like the Blair-Bush relationship was," he was reported as saying. | "It is very unlikely that the Brown-Bush relationship is going to go through the baptism of fire and therefore be joined together at the hip like the Blair-Bush relationship was," he was reported as saying. |
| "That was a relationship born of being war leaders together. | "That was a relationship born of being war leaders together. |
| "There was an emotional intensity of being war leaders with much of the world against them. That is enough to put you on your knees and get you praying together." | "There was an emotional intensity of being war leaders with much of the world against them. That is enough to put you on your knees and get you praying together." |
| He went on to speak of forging new links with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, as well as with leaders in India and China. | He went on to speak of forging new links with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, as well as with leaders in India and China. |
| "You need to build coalitions that are lateral, which go beyond the bilateral blinkers of the normal partners," he added. | "You need to build coalitions that are lateral, which go beyond the bilateral blinkers of the normal partners," he added. |
| "My hope is that foreign policy will become much more impartial." | "My hope is that foreign policy will become much more impartial." |
| 'Get a grip' | |
| His remarks come the day after Mr Alexander was accused of "coded criticism" of the policies of President George W Bush in a speech he made in the US. | His remarks come the day after Mr Alexander was accused of "coded criticism" of the policies of President George W Bush in a speech he made in the US. |
| When asked if his comments amounted to criticising the US, Gordon Brown's spokesman said that view "was not shared" by the PM. | When asked if his comments amounted to criticising the US, Gordon Brown's spokesman said that view "was not shared" by the PM. |
| Mr Brown, himself, told BBC Radio Five Live that he would continue to work, as Tony Blair did, "very closely with the American administration". | Mr Brown, himself, told BBC Radio Five Live that he would continue to work, as Tony Blair did, "very closely with the American administration". |
| Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell has called on Mr Brown to "get a grip". | |
| "What is at issue is not the relationship with the US but the nature of that relationship," he said. | |
| "Under Tony Blair the relationship was so subordinate as to appear subservient. Britain needs to be America's candid friend not its client." |