Gordon Brown emerged from the Oval Office yesterday clutching the prized endorsement of Barack Obama for Britain’s 'special relationship' with the US and support for his plan for a global regulatory shake-up and crackdown on offshore banking centres.

The US president delivered a propaganda coup to Brown, hailing Britain as America’s 'strongest partner' in the fight against terrorism and backing the prime minister’s attempt to borrow his way out of the recession.

His warm reception from Obama will come as a boost to Brown, struggling in the opinion polls at home and faced with damaging suggestions of a rift with Alistair Darling, chancellor.

Financial Times