Senior leaders to meet Obama

Barack Obama in Britain today

Saturday, 26, Jul 2008 12:00

Barack Obama is in Britain today to meet senior politicians on the final leg of his diplomatic tour.

The presumptive Democratic nominee arrived in Britain late on Friday night and is set to meet prime minister Gordon Brown, Conservative leader David Cameron and former prime minister Tony Blair today.

He is expected to answer questions outside Downing Street later but will not be making a speech similar to Thursday's keynote address in the Tiergarten Park in Berlin.

Margot Miller of Democrats Abroad told politics.co.uk members of her party had united behind Mr Obama after the divisive primary season.

"He can engage with foreign leaders and show he understands the world - I think that has a large role in why he's doing this trip," she said.

"It's an important message to get to the voters back home. Americans want to see that he really can engage and talk about the issues that we all care about."

Mr Obama used his Berlin speech to emphasise the importance of unity between Europeans and the United States.

He told Berliners: "People of the world – look at Berlin, where a wall came down, a continent came together, and history proved that there is no challenge too great for a world that stands as one."

Ms Margot rejected claims that his idealism appears naïve at times.

"He's obviously a very emotional speaker – it's one of his strengths. He's a bright, articulate candidate."

Mr Obama has also visited Afghanistan, Iraq, Israel and France on his tour of the Middle East and Europe. His Republican rival John McCain completed a similar trip earlier in the year.