Is the UK and US special relationship over?
As Gordon Brown tries valiantly to organise a face-to-face meeting with US Pres Obama it would appear that the once special UK and US relationship may now be at an end. Despite denials from the Number 10 press machine, it would appear that Pres Obama is unwilling to organise a face-to-face meeting with Gordon Brown due in the main to the Lockerbie bomber issue which is still causing major ructions in America.
Even just a few short weeks ago the UK and US authorities had appeared to be as close as ever with Gordon Brown visiting the White House on a number of occasions and taking telephone calls from Pres Obama. However, there is a feeling that even though it was the Scottish authorities who took the final decision on the Lockerbie bomber, Gordon Brown is taking most of the flak and it has impacted upon his standing on the worldwide stage. Whether this will have any major long-lasting economic effect remains to be seen but there does appear to be much work to be done to restore any kind of relationship.
It will be interesting to see how the two men react at the forthcoming G20 meeting and if indeed there are formal talks organised.
Share this..
Related stories
Surprise surprise, Alistair Darling to hit high earners
As we approach the pre-budget report this week Alistair Darling, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has warned the high earners of the UK that they will be expected to "bear the greatest burden" over the next few years. This comes as no surprise to those in the UK who have been monitoring the economic situation and the very fact that the UK government has spent well over £1 trillion in bailing out...
Read MoreUK debt tops £1 trillion but could double within 12 months!
It has been revealed that the UK government is in debt to the tune of £1 trillion due to increased spending to try and stimulate the economy and reduced tax income. However, over the next 12 months we will likely see the debt in relation to Lloyds Bank and Royal Bank of Scotland added to this total which could increase the debt in the UK by a further £1.5 trillion. This would see the UK in arrea...
Read MoreThe Bank of England set to keep rates at 0.5%
The Bank of England monthly meeting for May should be a fairly low-key affair with a suggestion that UK base rates will be maintained at 0.5%. While there are differing groups in the UK looking for a reduction and some looking for an increase in UK base rates it appears that the MPC will be more concerned with quantitative easing in the short to medium term.
The likely decision to m...
Gordon Brown fights back
Gordon Brown was today in the firing line and under intense scrutiny from a host of committee chairman from the House of Commons. He was branded as "Crash Gordon" and not "Flash Gordon", he was criticised doing too little, he was criticised for doing too much but there is no doubt that Gordon Brown came out fighting today. Whether this will be enough to save his skin remains to be seen......
...
Takeover panel reviews Cadbury comments
As we mentioned yesterday, the chief executive of Cadbury, Todd Stitzer, has become embroiled in something of a slanging match with Merrill Lynch over reported comments made at a recent conference. Merrill Lynch seemed to suggest in a recent research note that the chief executive had indicated that a takeout price of 15 times profit, before tax and depreciation, would be a fair offer for the compa...
Read More