Brown Speaks to The One - Eddie Barnes

So Gordon Brown has finally got his prized phone call from Barack Obama, 72 hours after The One's inauguration. An event with the Prime Minister in Glasgow this afternoon was delayed while Brown waited for his phone to ring. We are told Brown got a full 45 minutes with Obama . "They spoke about the economy, the Middle East and other international issues. The tone of the conversation was friendly and substantive," says a spokesman. To quote David Cameron, presumably Brown didn't tell Obama that this was "no time for a novice".

It now seems increasingly the case that Brown is going to lose out in the race to become the first foreign guest to the Obama White House, with Nicolas Sarkozy and Angela Merkel seen as the most likely first footers.
The consolation prize - being Obama's first host - is still up for grabs for Brown however - Obama is due in London in early April for the G20 economic summit.