Senator John McCain is in London today and has met Prime Minister Gordon Brown (above) and Tory leader David Cameron.
Speaking outside Downing Street, Senator McCain praised the "unique relationship" between Britain and America and thanked the British armed forces for their long and dedicated service in Afghanistan and Iraq.
He said that he was a "great admirer" of Gordon Brown and singled out what he said was the Prime Minister's leadership on climate change and Africa. The US Senator said that he was "confident" that, as President, he could persuade China and India to join a comprehensive agreement that would tackle global warming.
He told British reporters that the surge of troops into Iraq was working and that America must finish the job of creating a "functioning democracy" in the nation even if that functioning wasn't very effective. Withdrawal now, he warned, would mean victory for al-Qaeda, chaos in Iraq and further sacrifice for Americans in years to come.
Gordon Brown presented Senator McCain with a signed copy of historian Martin Gilbert's Second World War.
Senator McCain then went on to a meeting with David Cameron. David Cameron and John McCain have much in common
- both emphasising a greener, more civil libertarian and more fiscally
conservative politics. They differ on the war in Iraq. Mr Cameron has
never spoken up in favour of the surge of troops into Iraq - preferring
the Baker-Hamilton approach. After their meeting Mr Cameron issued the
following statement:
“It was a fascinating and very productive meeting which covered a wide range of subjects including Iran, Iraq, the global economy and climate change. Our conversation centred on Afghanistan where the Senator praised the incredible work being carried out by British troops. We also discussed the need for greater co-ordination among the military and various authorities there. The Senator and I also spent time discussing our shared interests and how we can broaden the appeal of moderate Conservatism.”
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From left to right below: Dr Liam Fox, Shadow Defence
Secretary; Senator Lindsey Graham; Senator Joe Lieberman; Senator John
McCain; David Cameron; William Hague, Shadow Foreign Secretary; George
Osborne, Shadow Chancellor; Michael Howard, previous Tory leader.
