Gordon Brown has been visiting America. Reports indicate that he is traditionally pro America, often holidaying there and well read on American politics and economics. Ten years ago it could easily be said that while Blair's natural gravitational pull was towards Europe, Brown’s was towards the States.
But, ten years is a long time and the British attitude towards America, Americans in general and the President in particular has changed. This presents Brown with a challenge; he needs to develop a good working relationship with President Bush but does not want to be too closely associated with him in the eyes of the British left of centre voters.
Nature has blessed Brown in this arena, his naturally grumpy demeanour allows him to participate in buggy rides with President Bush and not appear to enjoy himself, doing it because he has to rather than because he enjoys it, as Blair did. This enables him to fulfil his transatlantic obligations and not to do himself too much damage with the anti-American lobby back home.
Well done Brown, first hurdle overcome with apparent ease.
The real test, however, is yet to come. Our troops are dieing at an alarming rate in both Iraq and Afghanistan and our ability to sustain these operations is being tested to destruction. Brown will come under increasing pressure to reduce or even withdraw troops from these conflicts. These calls are coming from across the political spectrum but come loudest from the left wing voters that he needs to regain to have any chance of winning a real political mandate.
These cries, if heeded, will set him on a collision course with Washington. The US military and government have already expressed their displeasure at the unwillingness of NATO governments to commit their troops to combat operations in Afghanistan. And the British troop reductions in Iraq didn’t go down well with US troops on the ground.
It is in our short and long term interests to stand alongside America, even if we do not always agree with every detail of their foreign policy. If Brown severs links with the USA just to placate the left he will do this country (and others) lasting damage and will show him unfit to be our Prime Minister.
