Obama Win Represents New Hope For Whole World - Teather

11.57.58am GMT Fri 7th Nov 2008

Local MP Sarah Teather met with Barack Obama to talk about her constituents

Local Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East Sarah Teather has welcomed Barack Obama's historic election win.

Barack Obama was swept to victory in the United States elections this week and will become the first black president of America.

Sarah met Barack Obama when he was Senator for Illinois, when she visited Washington on behalf of her constituent. She spoke with Obama about US prison camp Guantánamo Bay, and asked him to commit to having the detention centre closed.

Local Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East Sarah Teather said:

"Barack Obama's historic win represents new hope for the whole world. So many people who remain angry at Bush and Blair's illegal Iraq war will be hoping for a new beginning under President Obama.

"When I met Obama he was still a junior senator, though widely admired and respected. His remarkable journey to the White House, from very ordinary beginnings, is an inspiration to all those who believe that everyone should have the same opportunities in life, whatever their background.

"The real test of an Obama presidency, however, will be whether he can deliver the change that he has promised. The British Government should be pressurising Obama to commit to leaving Iraq, closing Guantánamo Bay, taking the lead on climate change and a renewed push for peace in the Middle East."

Sarah Teather has visited Washington twice to lobby senior US politicians on behalf of her constituent, who was held in Guantánamo Bay. She met Senator Barack Obama in March 2006. Writing in her diary for a local newspaper after the meeting, Sarah said:

"Thursday, 8am. Constituency breakfast meeting with Democrat Senators Barack Obama and Dick Durbin.

"I've gate-crashed this constituency public meeting, arriving with one of the CCR lawyers, hoping to get a minute or two to lobby the senators. Barack Obama is one of the Democrats' great hopes. He's an impressive performer. From the floor I challenge him to speak up about Guantánamo, he slides round my question, though picks up on my point about international perceptions of the US. His staff ask for my details and say he would like to stay in touch. I get 30 seconds with Dick Durbin at the end - a shame, he's been pretty outspoken on Guantánamo, but he promises to be in touch."