Anneliese has been quick to welcome the election of Barack Obama as the President of the United States, at the head of the Democrats, Labour's sister party.

"As America's first black President", she says, "Obama's election has already made history. I hope his term of office will be equally momentous, enabling the US to rebuild its reputation on the international stage and domestically, and to target the crushing poverty that so shames America".

"It will be interesting to see the Tory response to this news", she adds, "particularly as back in 2006 David Cameron welcomed the Republicans' John McCain to his first party conference as leader!"

And Labour Leader of the Council Jo Lovelock says: "I have never known people in Reading follow an American election so closely. I think we all see Obama's election as offering the world hope for the future, for real international co-operation on the financial crisis, on climate change and on so much else where George Bush has been part of the problem rather than part of the solution".