THE TELEGRAPH: Gordon Brown has triggered a potential row with John McCain, the Republican presidential candidate, after apparently backing Barack Obama - breaking convention not to get involved in foreign elections.
The Prime Minister heaped praise on Mr Obama and the Democrats in a magazine article, saying they were "generating the ideas to help people through more difficult times."
Dealing with economic problems is the crucial battleground in the US elections and Mr Brown's comments were interpreted as backing the Democrat candidate. It sparked a flurry of activity among [?]
The Prime Minister's office and the British Embassy in Washington were last night involved in an embarrassing behind-the-scenes operation to try and limit the fallout from the incident. They were alerted after the highly influential Drudge Report website picked up the story, sparking a flurry of comment and analysis from election watchers in the US. Gordon Brown Triggers Row with John McCain by 'Backing' Barack Obama >>> By Robert Winnett, Deputy Political Editor and Tom Leonard | September 9. 2008
THE TELEGRAPH: I have been told of an astonishing telephone conversation between David Miliband and his Russian counterpart, Sergi Lavrov in which the Foreign Secretary had to endure a four-letter word tirade.THE TELEGRAPH:
Mr Miliband spoke to the Russian foreign minister - a veteran not known for diplomatic niceties - to express British unease at events in Georgia. It seems Mr Lavrov didn't like being lectured by young Miliband.
Such was the repeated use of the "F word" according to one insider who has seen the transcript, it was difficult to draft a readable note of the conversation.
One unconfirmed report suggested that Mr Lavrov said: "Who are you to f------ lecture me?"
He also asked Mr Miliband in equally blunt terms whether he knew anything of Russia's history?
One Whitehall insider told me: "It was effing this and effing that. It was not what you would call diplomatic language. It was rather shocking." David Miliband four-letter abuse from Russian foreign minister >>> By Andrew Porter | September 9, 2008
John McCain's Team Mocks Gordon Brown over Barack Obama Backing >>> By Jon Swaine | September 10, 2008
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