The Staggers

The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

In pictures: Miliband meets Obama

Photos of the Labour leader’s first meeting with the US president.

By George Eaton Published 25 May 2011 13:01

Credit: Getty Images.

By now you'll have seen the video of Cameron and Obama's table tennis match at a school in south London, so here are some photos from Ed Miliband's first meeting with the US president.

Accompanying Miliband were Harriet Harman, Douglas Alexander and his consigliere Stewart Wood. The pair met for 40 minutes and reportedly discussed foreign policy and the challenges facing the progressive left (as a recent NS leader noted, the centre left holds or shares power in just eight European countries).

Credit: Getty Images

Obama also praised the last Labour government for helping to prevent a global financial meltdown by acting in concert with the US at the G20 summit in 2009. Continuing the theme of sport, Miliband's gift to Obama was a London 2012 basketball.

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Tags: Ed Miliband Barack Obama

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18 comments

Wed, 2011-05-25 21:03 — matthew fox (not verified)

@Marcus

I take it your aware the government borrowed a record amount for Apr 11, and beat the forecast by £3.5 Billion.

Wasn't the deficit plan supposed to cut borrowing, not increase it?

Thu, 2011-05-26 00:39 — elrob

Marcus
they are cutting just as fast as we are.
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You mean not at all? Borrowing figures are up.

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Yes, Obama is a left-wing US President............ but lest us forget that Obama's politics are more in line with coalition policy than that of Labour's.
============
1. Why would we want to have the same policies as let's help Wall St Democrats? Jeez, that sounds so needy: "Hey, we're just like you."

2. Coalition. More like War Cabinet.

3. Labour so far has what policies? a vague "committment" to a graduate tax, cutting the deficit over two Parliaments, and then a drip, drip of "values".

We'll see.

Thu, 2011-05-26 00:41 — elrob

Stu
btw about the photo... Ed doesn't look like he's at ease with it all... he's no prime minister quality...
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Jesus wept, how about some substance FFS. Go read the Sun!

Wed, 2011-05-25 14:16 — Stu (not verified)

Besides don't the american's owe China a shed load of money? if anything they have a bigger problem... no?

Wed, 2011-05-25 13:14 — priggy

Ed looks very robotic.

Wed, 2011-05-25 13:19 — Pat (not verified)

@priggy

At least he doesn't look smarmy, like half the cabinet...

Wed, 2011-05-25 13:29 — John James (not verified)

Ahhh a fellow Marxist!.

Wed, 2011-05-25 13:43 — Marcus (not verified)

Yes, Obama is a left-wing US President............ but lest us forget that Obama's politics are more in line with coalition policy than that of Labour's.

Wed, 2011-05-25 13:53 — Mathew (not verified)

Marcus, that is simply not true.

Be plans to pay down the US Deficit in 12 years not 5 and he used the first couple of years to allow growth to lock down the recovery before cutting.

Wed, 2011-05-25 14:11 — Marcus (not verified)

Matthew with one 't' - they are cutting just as fast as we are.

Wed, 2011-05-25 14:18 — Stu (not verified)

btw about the photo... Ed doesn't look like he's at ease with it all... he's no prime minister quality, looks like he's bowing down the Obama like he's second fiddle, whereas he should try to make himself look like the dominant one

Wed, 2011-05-25 14:20 — thinkov

heactually doesn't believe in capitalism at all and is going to merge americas economy with the worlds and introduce a global unit of currency

Wed, 2011-05-25 14:31 — mcquade

Oh look, the economic and political illiterates are back, Macus, Stu et al. Their false fact-finding missions must be over.

Wed, 2011-05-25 14:49 — truth (not verified)

obama.. sucks up the isreal.. very two faced and dissapointment.. netanyaho.. in obama's back yard .. playing to the congress men whilst obama is away.. never trust isreal.. what have they ever done for the world or for usa.. its always take take and take .when will the american people realize.. the deciet..

Wed, 2011-05-25 14:50 — Mathew (not verified)

Marcus

1) That is how my name is spelt on my Birth Certificate so what hs it to do with you?

2) His plan was to pay down the deficit in 12 years leaving the first few years for economic growth. You should also realise that it is the REPUBLICANS who are trying to accelerate the process.

MCQUADE

You are one to talk about economic illiteracy.

How would you create long term sustainable growth and record job creation when conumser and business confidence is collapsing? Side Supply doesn't work, you should read the congressional libraries report on it.

Wed, 2011-05-25 15:02 — Mr. Divine (not verified)

'Miliband's gift to Obama was a London 2012 basketball.'

Shoved down his throat.

Thu, 2011-05-26 13:04 — greg (not verified)

@Stu

They should probably whip them out and compare. I'm pretty sure that's how diplomacy works.

Thu, 2011-05-26 15:15 — Amsterdammer (not verified)

@ Marcus

"Yes, Obama is a left-wing US President............ but lest us forget that Obama's politics are more in line with coalition policy than that of Labour's."

wow Marcus, you're really clutching at straws aren't you. You clearly have no knowledge of American politics, otherwise you'd have noticed the potential Govt shut down which occurred last month - Republicans (the Conservative's sister party, and natural allies) in Congress were the ones who forced excessive cuts. The US deficit reduction plan was not Obama's baby, it was Boehner's.