Joe Biden hails US ‘open relationship’ with UK
DAVID Cameron welcomed US vice-president Joe Biden to Downing Street yesterday – and was told America’s relations with the UK were “the most open” it had with any nation.
The pair held talks and shared lunch – with Mr Biden saying he welcomed a chance to discuss foreign policy issues such as Afghanistan, North Africa, Iran and the Middle East, where “we both have a lot at stake”.
He had earlier met Deputy Prime Minster Nick Clegg, with whom he had “established a great relationship”.
Mr Biden added that “the most open relationship we have with any nation in the world is with Great Britain”.
He was sworn in as vice-president to Barack Obama last month. And the Prime Minister, as the two entered Downing Street’s White Room, said: “So you signed up for another four years?”
Mr Biden joked: “We did, we did. It was easy, nothing to it.”
Earlier, Mr Clegg made no mention of comments from the White House about Britain’s membership of the EU – though he said a trade tie-up with the US could provide a “significant boost to prosperity and jobs on both sides of the Atlantic”.
He added: “It’s something which has been talked about for many, many years but has been an elusive project to get going.”