Gordon Brown yesterday promised to work with US President Elect Barack Obama to build a new fairer global society in which hard work is rewarded, families are protected and markets are governed by morals.

Gordon Brown yesterday promised to work with US President Elect Barack Obama to build a new fairer global society in which hard work is rewarded, families are protected and markets are governed by morals.

US voters created a "defining moment" in history last week, when they elected a "progressive president" who believes in the power of government intervention to deliver answers to the current economic downturn, said the Prime Minister.

And he made clear he sees a close fit between his own response to the crisis and the agenda on which Obama was elected.

In an article for a Sunday newspaper, Mr Brown wrote: "It is up to us whether 2008 is remembered for a financial crash that engulfed the world or for a new resilience and optimism from a generation which faced the economic storm head on and built the fair society in its wake.

"The people of America made their choice last week. They picked a progressive president, inspiring the world with their belief that in difficult times people need their government to ensure more - not less - help and security is available for families and business."