Obama's victory is a landmark

A quarter of a million people descended on Grant Park in Chicago yesterday in the fervent hope and belief that they would be hearing a victory speech by America's first black president-elect,

People with white skin, black skin, Asians, Hispanics and Chinese got their wish as Barack Obama made another of those gripping, moving speeches which have captured the imagination not only of Americans, but the watching world.

Just as Britain was desperate for change in 1945, in 1979 and in 1997, the people of the United States are now hoping beyond hope that Mr Obama can bring them the change he has promised them.

This was a landmark election because if the American people had turned their backs on the Democrat candidate, the whole of the free world would have been wondering today whether it would ever step over the line.

European leaders will now be falling over themselves to be the first to be pictured with the new president on the White House lawn after his inauguration on January 20.

Gordon Brown was quick to congratulate Mr Obama and point out the importance of the relationship between the USA and the UK for our security, and especially at this time, for our prosperity.

"I know Barack Obama, and we share many values. We both share the determination to show that government can act to help people fairly through these difficult times facing the global economy."

The Prime Minister said he looked forward to working extremely closely with him "in the coming months and years".

"I believe the strong, historic relationships between Britain and America, as I believe Senator Obama acknowledges, are built not just on history and tradition, they are built on values.

"Values of liberty and opportunity, values that he mentioned today, values that we hold in common."

Mr Brown also sent a message to John McCain this morning.

"He has shown characteristic dignity in defeat, the same dignity which marked a lifetime of service to the public," Mr Brown said.

But, despite the Tories' traditional alignment with the Republicans and his own friendship with John McCain, David Cameron will take as much, if not more, encouragement from the election results on the other side of the Atlantic.

If America can vote in a young, inexperienced, charismatic politician – albeit not by a huge margin in the popular vote – well why can't Britain follow in its footsteps?

"This is an important moment not just for America but for the world," said Mr Cameron, who might also have been thinking "and for me".

He said the Obama victory would give people the opportunity to look at the US again as a beacon of "opportunity, freedom and democracy".

Those three words are all-important in a changing world where America's position at No 1 has been faltering and where there are mounting challenges from China and Russia, and amid the incredible wealth of the Gulf States.

Britain and the European Union are not exactly bit players in this power game, but this is a time when their leaders must unite in building new bridges over the Atlantic.

Barack Obama has reignited a belief in America that the people matter – something Tony Blair managed to do in the UK years ago, but which has now all but disappeared.

Can he fulfill the hopes of his followers, and can Gordon Brown or David Cameron follow his lead?