Thea Hawlin on why the 'Yes we can' of America will never prevail without the 'I do' of its people.

It takes a lot of courage to say what you really think; it takes even more courage when you are the President of one of the most powerful countries on earth, addressing the world. On the 9 May 2012 President Barack Obama became the first sitting US president to back same-sex marriage, marking a significant historical, political and cultural moment.

Although the president stressed it was a personal opinion, saying he still supported states deciding on the issue for themselves, what was striking was his ability to take this issue into his own hands. His decision to speak out on a personal level as well as a political one is commendable, especially in his unabashed delivery: whereas other leaders may shy away from such issues Obama took them head on. In an interview with Robin Roberts for ABC news Roberts noted how 'It was very important for him to say it himself and not have other people say it on his behalf' and this intimacy is what has made the statement so striking:

'At a certain point, I've just concluded that-- for me personally, it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that-- I think same-sex couples should be able to get married.'

'It's a pretty simple proposition' he was recorded saying earlier at the 2011 HRC Annual National Dinner, 'every single American deserves to be treated equally in the eyes of the law and in the eyes of our society'. His emphasis in his support of same-sex marriage rested on these previous statements, his belief that people should be treated 'fairly...equally', something which sadly has yet to become a reality in contemporary society.

After all his remarks come a day after North Carolina became the 30th state to ban gay marriage, voting for a constitutional ban on same-sex unions. It's shocking and rather disturbing that no one has spoken out sooner against this issue--that such overt discrimination can still exist in our society, a discrimination that if transferred to any other minority group would almost certainly have been instantly taken up as a serious breach of human rights. Marriage is a powerful word, and Obama confesses he was 'sensitive to the fact that the word marriage evokes very powerful traditions and religious beliefs'. In his interview it was made clear he is still a practising Christian, something many might have assumed would put him at odds with this opinion, yet Obama is strong enough to assert those beliefs on which religion is founded, maintain his conviction that you have to: 'Treat others the way you'd want to be treated.' It's a 'what would Jesus do?' situation and he's got it spot on.

Obama is a man who knows what he believes, yet like any other human being he is not always sure. He describes the process by which he reached this opinion as an 'evolution', brutally honest about the difficulty of reaching his own personal position. He admits that like many of his contemporaries for a while he hesitated about endorsing same sex marriage in the belief that 'civil unions would be sufficient' yet after these 'several years' of conflict he remerges with a familiar, 'Yes we can'. The humorous associations of his original campaign phrase with the childish Bob the Builder's 'Can we fix it?' strikes home here. After ridicule for his lack of action in his first year of presidency, it seems that Obama is fighting back. Showing the world he is unafraid to act on what is right, he is unafraid to stand against other members of his society; unafraid to 'fix it'.

The hope of 'Yes we can' depended on a vision of a better future, a future of equality, of a united 'we'. What acts like this statement show is that this future will never come to pass without the action of individuals literally saying 'I do'. It is only with a united 'I do' that America will be able to fulfil its joyful declaration: 'Yes we can'. Let's hope they make it to the church on time.

Primaries & Caucuses

Although the Democrats and the Republicans have yet to hold their late summer conventions, the 2012 race for the presidency is clearly in full gear.

We are now coming to the end of a brutalizing Republican Primary-Caucus season - beginning back in the freezing corn fields of Iowa.

Here is where we stand.

According to Real Clear Politics, the presumptive candidate Mitt Romney currently has 989 delegates - 1,144 are needed to secure the Republican nomination at their convention in Tampa Bay. He will garner those delegates and put it away by no later than June 5.

The General Election

Both presumptive candidates President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney are already flooding the key battle ground states with ads and stumping in all the critical swing states.

Currently the RCP poll - which measures the likely popular vote - has Obama with 45.5 and Romney with 43.6 - a statistical dead heat.

This difference is within the margin of error.

However, the Electoral College map - which is the one that counts and determines the ultimate outcome of the US Presidential Elections - tells a different story.

Currently Obama has 227 and Romney 170 - 141 electoral votes are in the toss up column.

Despite the fact that every registered voter is entitled to one vote in the presidential election, the US president is not selected by the outcome of the popular vote.

The Electoral College system was put in place to balance the interests of small states against larger more populous states in the outcome of the Presidential Election.

The results of the popular vote in each state are translated into the number of Electoral College votes for each state.

The Presidency is in a sense the prize awarded to the candidate who wins at least 270 Electoral College votes.

It is possible that a candidate could win the popular vote and still lose the Presidential Election.

In fact, this very thing happened as recently as the 2000 Presidential Election - remember Florida? - when George W. Bush was elected president because he won 271 Electoral College votes despite the fact that Al Gore won the popular vote with 48.4% to Bush's 47.9%.

RPC has 11 toss-up states.

It is very unusual for the electoral map to be so narrowed at this point in a presidential campaign.

Arizona - Romney +4.0
Colorado - tied
Florida - Obama +0.5
Iowa - Obama +4.0
Michigan - Obama +5.3
Missouri - Romney +3
New Hampshire - Obama +6.4
North Carolina - Romney +2.5
Ohio - Obama +4.9
Virginia - Obama +2.5
Wisconsin - Obama +2.8

Money! Money! Money! The Super PACs

This is the first presidential campaign after the Supreme Court case - "Citizens United" - opened the financial flood gates allowing unlimited cash to flow into the presidential election process.

This ruling in this case allows unlimited and undisclosed cash contributions from super wealthy individuals by way of Super PACs to become a decisive and influential factor in US presidential politics.

The jury is still out as to the ultimate affect this tsunami of cash will have on the outcome of this race.

Both parties and presidential candidates are in a fight to the finish for these "Mega Bucks".

A Nation Divided

It is clear that both the Republicans and the Democrats, for their own reasons, seem a little disappointed in their presumptive choices.

As a result this election will turn on:

- The ability of the parties to excite their voters and get them out to the polls (GOTV)

- The ability of the campaigns to raise lots and lots of money

- The ability of the candidates to move successfully to the center and win the hearts and minds of the independent voter without totally alienating their base voters

- Romney's choice of a vice presidential running mate - which could affect the enthusiasm factor for the Republicans or even guarantee him a key state or region - more on this in a later blog!

- The affect of Super PACs and their unlimited resourses spent on negative ads

- Unpredictable events which are beyond the of the control of both candidates:

* the unraveling Euro causing a world wide double dip recession and reversing the US economic recovery

* unforeseen negative developments in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan

* other unexpected surprises or crises on the world stage

And of course there are the televised Presidential and Vice-presidential Debates....Something to look forward to after the conventions!

The Prize

No matters who wins the presidency, one thing seems perfectly clear - the American people are deeply divided on which path to take going forward.

It also seems like the margin of control for either of the parties in both the Senate and House of Representatives is likely to be even smaller when this contentious election season is over.

This will make governing and reaching compromises for the president even more challenging - whomever wins the prize!

This blog can also be read on Sky News

Many women across the country recoiled in horror when David Beckham revealed his dodgy tache as he met Barack Obama last week.

But we're not the only ones who aren't fans of Becks' facial topiary - the President isn't either.

Becks has revealed how Barack gave him a ribbing over the addition to his (normally very handsome) face.

David told US TV show Extra: "He said, 'David, why all the facial hair, man?' I just laughed it off."

He added: "To even be in the White House was a big honour but to get a little bit of stick off the President was huge."

The President also teased him about having his own underwear range but David got his revenge by sending him a pair of his pants.

Lucky Obama.

> IN PICS: BECKS MEETS THE PRESIDENT

So Obama sat with Karzai before the NATO Afghan summit last Sunday (20th May) and gave him a little lecture, 'Now, when we get out in 2014, you need to behave, you have to have a good democracy, no corruption and you have to be civil to your enemy, the Taliban.' Karzai nodded,' yes, yes. yes'. And everyone at the summit was happy.

Except the 'enemy' doesn't want to talk, and corruption is the glue that keeps Karzai's happy band together and a clean democracy will topple Karzai. It's all a little satirical.

After 10 years, billions of dollars and a defeat staring in the face, it appears the 'coalition' forces are still groping to find what the Taliban is all about or what the Pushtuns call democracy and what al Qaeda's (AQ) mission is. Thousands of pundits have been advising Governments, writing papers and become fully paid experts (except me). Yet this rugged tribesmen who wear turbans as if they have still to discover the mirror, seem to be outsmarting everyone.

Yes the Generals leading the war against, what exactly we still don't know, assure us that the al Qaeda and Taliban are much weakened with many of their leaders killed by unmanned drones guided by persons playing computer games on US soil. 'Cowards hiding behind technology, come fight us face to face', say the Taliban. Cowards say the US to Taliban as their mujahedeen plant roadside bombs at night and then disappear. In this fight, no one likes to show their face.

But beneath all that bravo talk, is a coalition coming apart by its failure to achieve its aims and a recognition that the 'mission', whatever it is, is neither within grasp, nor even defined.

For a start al Qaeda and the Taliban are fighting two different wars. It took the United States more than six years to grasp this. Al Qaeda is fighting a global war to rid the holy land (Saudi Arabia) of infidels (US bases). It wants to rid Middle East of western puppet governments. And despite the fractious state of global Islam, it wants to restore the Caliphate, the equivalent of the Catholic Pope or our Anglican Queen.

I say, good luck to AQ. It will have decades if not centuries of internecine conflicts before a Caliph is agreed at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the EU equivalent of 57 Islamic countries. Why is the west fighting to stop what AQ and Iran can do themselves is beyond me.

Al Qaeda, uses local domestic grievances in different regions to engage the west through regional hotheads. The west gets trapped in these wars and helps create a global propaganda for AQ of 'Islam under threat'. It is a common currency of war cries, Blair always shrieked on about AQ 'they are a threat to our way of life', meaning parliamentary democracy and human rights both of which he significantly eroded single handed by himself without Bin Laden's advice!

Perhaps the award winning ignominious reason for war came from Harvard educated George Bush. 'they hate us'. Seems in USA it needs a 'Harvard' education to come to the analytic insight that the enemy is the enemy because it hates us and we hate them. War is always on the agenda of American elections because somebody always hates the US of A. 'God save America and the rest of the world from its trigger happy democracy and AQ (which hates America)'.

Meanwhile the Taliban, unlike AQ, are on a domestic mission to reclaim their power and 'their way of life' in Afghanistan. Created by the powerful Pakistan intelligence, ISI, the Taliban were the first serious attempt at state building in Afghanistan albeit in Pushtun and Islamic ways at a time when Afghanistan was in chaos following the war against Russian occupation. the West wants its own version of 'State'.

But the Pushtun are a fiercely independent people who intensely dislike centralised power and have centuries old democratic ways of decision making through local jirgas (or shuras) and Loya Jirgas (grand assmeblies). Their way is consensus, although of the powerful.

Cultural norms are more influential than laws of the land in many Afghan tribes, particularly the Pushtuns. People got killed for breaking these norms. The Taliban regime was Pakistan's attempt at introducing some sort of rule of law, although through the sharia, whatever its drawbacks.

What we have now is similar to the crises that occurred when the Russians fled. Karzai is the most powerful war lord with a huge army at his disposal, trained, armed and financed by the west. He uses the 'moral' instrument of 'democratically legislated' law to impose his order. And the west runs the illusion that he is a 'democratically' elected leader, although according to Ambassador Galbrath the elections were rigged.

Then there are hundreds of smaller warlords, some aligned to his outfit, some independent, some to the other competing forces and some even to the Taliban.

And then there is the Taliban, perhaps the most disciplined and ideologically driven group, waiting to bring order to the usually fractious Pushtun society once the 'coalition forces' leave. It has a mixture of sharia laws and local customs in its arsenal.

Karzai knows that secular democracy and human rights do not get votes in Afghanistan. Yet that is what the coalition soldiers have been dying for and west paying for all this time.

Karzai's only call is 'the Taliban are a threat to our way of life'. But people know his way of life as corruption, tortures, rapes, privilege, coercion and warlordism. It is no wonder that he does not want to make common ground with the Taliban. That will be his demise.

The world is full of cranks and dreamers controlling power. And there were two of them talking fairy tales to each other at the NATO summit when President Obama and President Karzai assured each other and all present of their 'delusion' of achievable end goal, 'Good responsible secular democracy, human rights, end to corruption and talks with the Taliban to make them partners'. 'Dream on', say the Taliban and ISI.

The Pushtuns do not talk to losers. They won't talk to Karzai. And Afghan warlords live for corruption and coercion. Karzai can't reduce corruption or bring in transparent democracy.

So what was the NATO summit all about. Illusions of a perfect democracy and delusions of aims achieved. The west went in believing and comes out believing.

David Cameron has been criticised for eating too much junk food by an American medical association, who believe the PM is spotted all too often stuffing his face with hotdogs, fried food and other culinary sins.

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) wrote to Number 10 on Wednesday, claiming that photo opportunities of the PM eating greasy grub are too common. They aren't just singling out Cameron for criticism though - letters have been sent to the White House asking Barack Obama to also think before he scoffs in public.

According to the PCRM: "The letter requesting a policy change argues that food-oriented photo ops featuring prominent leaders receive massive publicity, akin to product placement in movies, and drown out the government's health messages."

PCRM president Neal Barnard is quoted thus: "Cameron has backed a 'fat tax' on unhealthy foods to stem Britain's obesity crisis. So why is he setting a bad personal example by chowing down on junk food for the cameras?

"Hot dogs, sausage, and other unhealthful foods have already contributed to rising cancer rates in Britain. The prime minister is free to eat what he likes in private, but at orchestrated public events, our leaders are role models."

Well that's you told, Dave. And it's not as if there isn't the evidence to back them up...

Barely a week goes past without an article being published discussing the feasibility and likelihood of an imminent Israeli attack on Iran - a matter receiving further prominence as in Baghdad this week, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (plus Germany) will meet with Iran to discuss its nuclear ambitions. Speculation typically focuses on whether Israel can successfully neuter Iran's nuclear infrastructure unilaterally.

Most seasoned observers conclude this as being improbable, and it is therefore likely that Israel will turn to its principal ally, the United States, for assistance. No doubt the Americans are reluctant to involve themselves in yet another Middle Eastern adventure. However, perhaps the strongest case for their intervention is a connection that may not seem obvious to many - that by attacking Iran, a solution to the seemingly intractable issue of the Israeli Palestinian conflict may be unlocked.

This supposition is not as fanciful as one might think. Since Barack Obama took office almost four years ago, a two state solution between Israel and the Palestinians looks as unachievable as ever. This is partly due to Benjamin Netanyahu, whose government has demonstrated a consistent lack of flexibility towards the Palestinians. Matters are not helped by the Palestinian Authority's unilateral declaration of statehood at the United Nations last year, and the continuing success of Hamas (still eternally sworn to the destruction of Israel), who rule with an iron fist in Gaza, and who continually strive to expand their power base in the West Bank.

Yet a great opportunity presents itself to end the current gridlock: in short, Mr Obama offers the following proposition to the Israelis - we will assist you in any future attack against Iran, but, in return, you must agree to the immediate cessation of settlement expansion in the West Bank, and commit to the future dismantling of various settlements in this troubled part of the world.

Now, the standard Israeli objection to such an undertaking is that without an adequate Palestinian partner for peace, their hands are tied. However, unlike many of the other contentious issues that separate these sides (such as the future of Jerusalem), both of the actions described above can be implemented unilaterally - a settlement freeze is the prerogative of the Israeli government alone, and, although perhaps not the best example, Israel's disengagement from Gaza in 2005 shows that it can dismantle settlements without coordinating with the Palestinians. Also, Israel has previously identified (during the Camp David talks in 2000 and in successive negotiations with the Palestinians) which West Bank settlements it would keep, and those which it would be willing to abandon to facilitate the emergence of a future Palestinian state. Such a manoeuvre by Israel may reignite the moribund peace negotiations - for the Palestinians, the continual growth of the settlements unquestionably presents one of the greatest obstacles to the success of such future talks.

Although such measures place a burden on Israel to make substantial concessions (without potentially receiving anything in return from the Palestinians), these should be presented as the necessary sacrifice it must make in return for US military help on Iran. This proposition benefits Mr Obama too - not only would a nuclear Iran diminish American power in the Middle East, but it also sends shivers down the spines of many actors in the region, least of all in the Gulf States and Saudi Arabia, who could well be panicked into beginning their own nuclear arms race. More optimistically, any moves towards a peaceful resolution of the Israeli Palestinian conflict would, at the very least, diminish a perpetual source of Arab anger towards the West. If he could pull this off, Mr. Obama would glow in the prestige of having come closer than any of his predecessors in achieving peace between these warring sides, in perfect time for his re-election campaign, which is already underway.

Regardless of this hypothesis, matters are intensifying - a further display of recalcitrance by Iran at the Baghdad summit will stoke the flames of those who do not believe that its nuclear objectives are honourable. Two other recent events also suggest that now would be a propitious time to strike - for the first since in almost a decade there are now no US troops in Iraq (who previously would have been at risk from any potential Iranian retaliation). Also Syria's President Bashar Assad is currently preoccupied with consolidating his grip on power, therefore his ability to coordinate a military response against Israel following an attack on Iran is somewhat inhibited.

The time of reckoning is getting closer. It may be that Israel can successfully deal with the existential threat posed by Iran on its own. However, if it cannot, and needs to call upon the help of its closest ally, this could be a rare opportunity for the United States to tie up two increasingly toxic loose ends, thereby making the Middle East both a safer, and more just place.

The US President has told European leaders that his country will step in to help the crisis in Europe just as soon as it affects America.

“Unless there is a direct act of aggression towards the American economy, we’re just going to stand back and watch it all play out,” said President 'BHO'.

It is thought that America is most likely to start helping Europe two years after the crisis started - on what will come to be known as 'a date which will live in infamy'.

There has been some clandestine support for Europe in America, but in general a lack of interest in its crisis - also known as “isolationism” - is prevalent throughout the United States.

When asked about the European crisis in a national poll, 80% of Americans answered "What crisis?" while a further 20% responded with "Where's Europe?"

I give you, courtesy of Conservative Home, a website offering therapy for frustrated Tories, this unattractive vignette: "Mr Hilton was also accused of being unprofessional: turning up at the meeting in shorts and a T-shirt, clutching a plastic bag full of oranges. As the meeting went on, Mr Hilton is said to have started 'inexpertly' peeling an orange, getting juice all over the crotch of his brushed cotton shorts.  That last detail was a low blow, but you get the picture.  Every radical will sympathise with Mr Hilton.  There are parts of the government machine that simply don't work".

Should you need guidance with unpicking this unsavoury tale, I should explain that the Mr Hilton referred to is the prime minister's friend and guru Steve Hilton who, we have been reliably informed all week, is in the process of getting on a plane to California. Why you might ask? Well it is not so that he can pick up some more oranges to bring back to his meetings in London where he can carry on peeling them inexpertly. Rather Mr Hilton is embarking upon a form of exile. He has been forced out to the west coast - the west coast of the USA that is; Mr Hilton is not, I think, the sort of man to find solace in Aberystwyth - by the civil service who have been slow to take to his ideas though quick to mock his gaucherie with citrus fruit. Mr Hilton is peeved by this, as well as, according to some reports, feeling that the prime minister has become too enthralled himself by these mandarin-judging mandarins.

As messy with his packing as appears to be his snacking, Mr Hilton has managed to leave behind a generous portion of his oeuvre for us to chew upon. This has leaked its way into the public domain as effortlessly as the nose of his plane dips towards the setting sun. He is said, for example, to have proposed that a further £25 billion be cut from welfare spending, an idea which has made even Iain Duncan Smith, the man in charge of these things, reach for a glass of water.

On Friday meanwhile, the prime minister advanced the extraordinary thesis that the state had not become as intimately involved in the part of raising children as it might, and must therefore up its game through the important mechanism of a hundred quid's worth of taxpayer-funded parenting classes. It is ridiculous, said Mr Cameron, that we are taught how to drive a car but not to raise a child, one of those points that is so simultaneously obvious and otiose that no one has ever bothered to think of it before. Mr Cameron might be forgiven for this, for he himself may have been driving under the influence of his erstwhile svengali at the time. He should be pulled over immediately and made to blow into a copy of the Conservative manifesto. If it falls apart, we shall know that this was indeed the hand of Hilton hard at work.

It is for his battles with the civil service that Mr Hilton will be most remembered: an organisation that, by some accounts, he would like to cut in size by 90%. It may have been during one of his many orange-peeling meetings that he came to the conclusion that "there are parts of the government machine that simply do not work". What parts exactly isn't entirely clear from the reports. Are we talking here about the contents of Mr Hilton's brushed-cotton shorts, or is it felt that the malaise is more widely-spread? That's the trouble with these modern gurus. They prick your interest with their observations and then bog off to California before they deliver the denouement.

Whether Mr Cameron's state-run nappy changing agency will be part of the 90% of the civil service that doesn't work, or part of the 10% that does, only time will tell, or perhaps smell, but the prime minister in any case had other things to deal with. All week the eurozone had been proving, if further proof were needed, that it was part of the 90%. Mr Cameron had to go to Washington where the leaders of the other what are still called world's richest countries were gathering to try to sort the bugger out.

These summits follow a familiar pattern. They begin with a bold declaration that the participants are intent upon solving whatever problem lies before them, and end with a further declaration that they are as intent as ever upon solving whatever problem lies before them. The bit in-between is largely dinner. Most of us when, say, the gasman arrives saying he is going to fix the boiler and then leaves, saying that he is going to fix the boiler, can spot the flaw. However, when it is our leaders doing the arriving and leaving it is widely supposed that our criticial faculties are suspended for the duration. Oddly enough, this often turns out to be true.

In Washington President Obama teamed up with his new friend President Hollande of France to beat up Chancellor Merkel of Germany. It is sad for the cheap-jack gag-merchants of the bien pensantmedia that the second President Bush is no longer in charge. They would have had a lot of fun telling us how he thought he was ganging up with the President of Holland to do over France. As it is, it was like 1944 all over again, except that on this occasion Britain's presence appeared to be superfluous to requirements.

Mr Cameron, who is in favour of austerity in this country but not, it seems, when it comes to Germany, may be regarded as an unreliable ally for the two presidents who are in general universally well-disposed towards the idea of spending other people's money. Nevertheless, if the New York Times is to be believed, Mr Cameron did get some important time with the President (Obama that is, not Hollande) on the treadmill, from which I think we are meant to assume they were exercising together, rather than putting in a shift generating electricity for the Greeks. No doubt they were discussing the President's re-election prospects. These are dependent on the health of the US economy which, in turn, is dependent in part upon the state of the European economy. Chancellor Merkel should understand this: rescuing the Eurozone is not about jobs and growth, but about getting President Obama re-elected, an altogether higher cause.

Chelsea fans lined the streets of west London on Sunday as the team celebrated the club's historic Champions League and FA Cup double win with a victory parade.

Players, including captain John Terry, showed off the Champions League trophy, which they won less than 24 hours ago in a dramatic penalty shoot-out in Munich.

Jubilant fans waved flags as the open top blue bus passed by and players waved club scarves. Fans blew horns and cars travelling down the Fulham Road tooted their support for the West London club.

When the players were given a microphone and asked to say a few words, Terry led chants of "Champione, champione, ole, ole, ole".

The Blues were crowned European club champions for the first time in their history when they overcame Bayern Munich in their home stadium after the match went to extra time.

Around 25,000 Chelsea fans packed behind one of the goals in the Allianz Arena, while many more crammed into bars in London and around the UK to follow the action live on TV.

Even Prime Minister David Cameron managed to catch the nail-biting shoot-out, watching the drama unfold alongside German chancellor Angela Merkel and other world leaders at the G8 summit at Camp David.

Didier Drogba was Chelsea's hero, scoring the equalising goal in the dying minutes of normal time and netting the spot kick to win the shootout 4-3.

It followed his match-winning goal which saw the west Londoners overcome Liverpool 2-1 in the FA Cup final at Wembley earlier this month.

At 34, Drogba is said to be leaving Stamford Bridge, so his winning goal could well be his last kick for the club.
But the Ivorian star will certainly be immortalised as a Chelsea legend by the fans.

He said of his team-mates on ITV: "They never give up until the end. This team is amazing.

"It was written, I think, a long time ago.

"I want to dedicate this cup to all the managers we've had before, all the players I've played with before."

Roman Abramovich, the club's owner, joined in the celebrations from the stands.

The team's last victory parade saw around 70,000 excited fans flocked to the streets to celebrate the clubs 2010 Premier League and FA Cup double.

Today's bus celebration follows the same route, travelling along streets including Fulham Road and King's Road before ending in Parsons Green.

Local roads will be restricted and some closed to traffic from early this morning until the crowds disperse, London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham said.

Councillor Nick Botterill, H&F Council Deputy Leader, said: "Chelsea's historic Champions League and FA Cup double is a monumental achievement that will never be forgotten in these parts.

"Like a phoenix from the flames Roberto Di Matteo turned around what could have been a disappointing year for the Blues to deliver the top prize in world club football to west London.

"This will forever be remembered as the year the Blues achieved their European destiny!"

Tens of thousands of Chelsea fans will line the streets of west London today to celebrate the club's historic Champions League and FA Cup double.

Hoards of jubilant supports are expected to salute their heroes during a victory open top bus parade less than 24 hours after the Blues' dramatic Champions League penalty triumph in Munich.

The rolling procession will kick-off from Stamford Bridge at 4pm with rookie manager Roberto Di Matteo, captain John Terry and the rest of the double-winning Chelsea team set to display their newly-won silverware.

The Blues were crowned European club champions for the first time in their history after a dramatic penalty shoot-out in Germany last night.

They overcame Bayern Munich in their home stadium after the match went to extra time.

Around 25,000 Chelsea fans packed behind one of the goals in the Allianz Arena, while many more crammed into bars in London and around the UK to follow the action live on TV.

Even Prime Minister David Cameron managed to catch the nail-biting shoot-out, watching the drama unfold alongside German chancellor Angela Merkel and other world leaders at the G8 summit at Camp David.

Didier Drogba was Chelsea's hero, scoring the equalising goal in the dying minutes of normal time and netting the spot kick to win the shootout 4-3.

It followed his match-winning goal which saw the west Londoners overcome Liverpool 2-1 in the FA Cup final at Wembley earlier this month.

Drogba was nearly the villain last night when he conceded a penalty in the first half of extra time, but Dutchman Arjen Robben's shot was saved by Chelsea's other hero on the night, goalkeeper Petr Cech.

At 34, Drogba is said to be leaving Stamford Bridge, so his winning goal could well be his last kick for the club.

But the Ivorian star will certainly be immortalised as a Chelsea legend by the fans.

He said of his team-mates on ITV: "They never give up until the end. This team is amazing.

"It was written, I think, a long time ago.

"I want to dedicate this cup to all the managers we've had before, all the players I've played with before."

Roman Abramovich, the club's owner, joined in the celebrations from the stands.

The team's last victory parade saw around 70,000 excited fans flocked to the streets to celebrate the clubs 2010 Premier League and FA Cup double.

Today's bus celebration will follow the same route, travelling along streets including Fulham Road and King's Road before ending in Parsons Green.

Local roads will be restricted and some closed to traffic from early this morning until the crowds disperse, London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham said.

Councillor Nick Botterill, H&F Council Deputy Leader, said: "Chelsea's historic Champions League and FA Cup double is a monumental achievement that will never be forgotten in these parts.

"Like a phoenix from the flames Roberto Di Matteo turned around what could have been a disappointing year for the Blues to deliver the top prize in world club football to west London.

"This will forever be remembered as the year the Blues achieved their European destiny!"

World leaders have piled on the pressure on the eurozone nations to resolve their problems amid fears the debt crisis in the single currency bloc could damage the entire global economy.

Prime Minister David Cameron, attending the G8 summit at Camp David on Saturday, said the eurozone nations needed to heed calls from around the world for "decisive action" to end the turmoil.

The summit host, President Barack Obama, emphasised the importance of countries being "absolutely committed" to restoring stability and economic growth while repairing their public finances.

Cameron also hinted that he would like to see the European Central Bank follow the Bank of England in printing money to boost flagging demand on the continent.

The gathering in the Appalachian Mountains of Maryland left three of the eurozone's key players - Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande and Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti - exposed to the full force of international alarm.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and the President of the European Council Herman van Rompuy were also invited to hear the extent of the concern that the effects crisis could spread far beyond the continent.

"The G8 can't instruct the eurozone what to do," Mr Cameron said. "But why meetings like this matter is that eurozone countries can hear from countries outside the eurozone, whose economies are affected: obviously Britain, but also America, Japan, Canada.

"It's very important these messages get across, and I would say there is a growing sense of urgency that action needs to be taken, contingency plans need to be put in place.
"And the strengthening of banks, governments and firewalls and all of those things need to take place very fast."

Opening the main working session of the day, Mr Obama also made clear that the world was looking for a solution amid fears a disorderly Greek exit from the single currency could trigger another global financial collapse.

"All of us are absolutely committed to making sure that growth and stability and fiscal consolidation are part of the overall package that all of us have to pursue in order to achieve the kind of prosperity for our citizens that we are looking for," he said.

Earlier, Mr Cameron and the US President had discussed tactics ahead of the meeting during an early morning session together on the treadmills at the Camp David gym.

European sensitivities mean that any significant step forward is more likely to occur at next week's informal EU summit in Brussels.
Amid the organised jollity of the traditional "family photo" of the gathered leaders, Mr Obama admitted: "We have got a lot more work to do."

However there was a clear determination that the assembled leaders - including the leaders of Canada, Russia and Japan - should be seen to addressing the issue.

Mr Cameron was careful not to point the finger of blame at Mrs Merkel - the eurozone's paymaster whose determination to impose rigid fiscal discipline across the currency bloc is blamed by critics for prolonging the crisis.

He did however indicate that he would like to see the European Central Bank do more by following the Bank of England's "quantitative easing" policy to support flagging demand.

"I think the German Chancellor is absolutely right that every country needs to have in place strong plans for dealing with their deficits," he said.

"But clearly, just as Britain benefits from a strong government with a strong deficit reduction plan and strong banks but also an independent monetary policy giving us low interest rates, helping to push demand in the economy, so the eurozone, I believe, needs that approach as well."

The Prime Minister also revived talk of a possible release of strategic oil reserves - which he and Mr Obama discussed when he visited the White House in March - to ease pressure on fuel prices.

At the opening working dinner on Friday night, the leaders discussed recent events in Syria, Iran, North Korea and Burma, with Mr Cameron briefing the meeting on his recent visit and meeting with the opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Tomorrow the international circus moves on to the Nato summit in Chicago where the focus will be on Afghanistan as international forces move towards withdrawal by the end of 2014.

In a statement on Saturday night, the G8 leaders stressed the importance of a "strong and cohesive" eurozone and reaffirmed their interest in Greece remaining a member while honouring its commitments to tackle its deficit.

"We all have an interest in the success of specific measures to strengthen the resilience of the eurozone and growth in Europe," the statement said.

"We support euro area leaders' resolve to address the strains in the eurozone in a credible and timely manner and in a manner that fosters confidence, stability and growth."

David Cameron and Barack Obama today engaged in a bout of treadmill diplomacy as they tried to grapple with the problems of the global economy.

The two leaders took to the gym together at the US President's Camp David retreat in Maryland in an effort to come up with a solution to the eurozone crisis.

The unusual setting for their high level discussions took place ahead of the main working session on the global economy at the G8 summit.

It came after officials had worked through the night to find an agreed form of wording on the issue for the final summit communique.

The president was said to have called for Mr Cameron at around 7.15am at his log cabin - called Maple - at the complex high in the picturesque Appalachian Mountains.

After a session pounding the treadmills, the two men emerged still deep in conversation. They were seen walking back to the cabins around 7.50am.

Labour's Chris Bryant said the treadmill summed up the prime minister, tweeting Cameron was "all puff and bother getting nowhere."

Officials attending the summit were coy about which man had been the more athletic performer - instead emphasising the intellectual content of their encounter.

Television pictures later showed the G8 leaders, casually dressed, squeezed round a tiny round table in one of the cabins, as they opened their talks for the day.

Mr Cameron, wearing a grey jumper and check shirt, was placed between Mr Obama and Russian Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev - both sporting blue, open neck shirts.

David Cameron today signalled that world leaders were ready to take action to tackle soaring oil prices.

Speaking after holding bilateral talks with President Barack Obama ahead of the main G8 meeting at Camp David, the Prime Minister said action was needed to protect world economies.

"We are addressing here the two biggest threats to all our economies and that is, of course, the eurozone crisis but also the very high oil prices that translate into high prices at the pumps," he said.

"We are making progress on both."

Mr Cameron said the summit - which brings together the leaders of Britain, the United States, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, Canada and Russia - was an opportunity for the non-eurozone nations to press the currency bloc to resolve its problems.

"Particularly on the eurozone, what is required is a sense of urgency and then clear actions for strong banks, strong deficit reduction plans, strong governance and strong contingency plans for whatever might happen," he said.

"On all those things I think there's a good sense of talks taking place and a good sense that action needs to follow.

"The G8 can't instruct the eurozone what to do but why meetings like this matter is that eurozone countries can hear from countries outside the eurozone whose economies are affected.

"It's very important these messages get across but I would say there is a growing sense of urgency that action needs to be taken, contingency plans need to be put in place and the strengthening of banks, governance, firewalls, all of those things, need to take place very fast."

Mr Cameron refused to be drawn into criticising German Chancellor Angela Merkel for blocking a rescue package for the eurozone.

However, he indicated that he would like to see the European Central Bank do more to stimulate demand.

"I think the German chancellor is absolutely right that every country needs to have in place strong plans for dealing with their deficits," he said.

"Growth and austerity aren't alternatives. You need a deficit reduction plan in order to get growth in order to have the low interest rates that we have in Britain and are vital for the future of our economy.

"But clearly, just as Britain benefits from a strong government with a strong deficit reduction plan and strong banks but also an independent monetary policy giving us low interest rates, helping to push demand in the economy, so the eurozone, I believe, needs that approach as well."

Even before official proceedings began, the event got off to a difficult start when Cameron clashed with Francois Hollande over the new French president's proposals for a Europe-wide tax on financial transactions.

The two men met for the first time following Hollande's election triumph earlier this month at the residence of the British ambassador in Washington before travelling on to Camp David.

Although the talks were described by officials as "friendly" there was no disguising the sharp difference over the issue of the financial transaction tax, which formed a key plank of Hollande's election platform.

"We are not going to get growth in Europe or in Britain by introducing a new tax that would actually hit people as well as institutions," Cameron said.

"I do not think it is a sensible measure. I will not support it."

For his part, Hollande could not resist a sly dig at Cameron's refusal to meet him when he visited London during the election campaign - a move widely interpreted as a snub to the Socialist leader.

"I couldn't meet David Cameron before the elections," he said. "I am all the happier to meet him afterwards."

The clash did not augur well for the first working session this morning to discuss the economy.

Alongside Hollande, who has called for a more growth-orientated strategy in Europe, was German chancellor Angela Merkel - the eurozone's paymaster and the arch-exponent of fiscal discipline to drive down the deficit.

The other nations taking part are Italy, Canada, Japan and Russia.

Cameron, meanwhile, had again vented his frustration at the continuing inability of the eurozone leaders to reach a resolution to the Greek debt crisis threatening stability of the whole continent.

"Decisive action is needed by the eurozone. They cannot go on kicking the can down the road," he said.

"This is in Britain's interest too because we want to have a successful growing eurozone on our doorstep and not the instability we have now."

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And after the failure of the Greek elections to deliver a clear result and with further elections looming, he said the Greek people would have to make a decision on where their future lay.

"The Greeks have to make up their mind which direction they want to go in and then Europe has to make up its mind about how to strengthen the situation and put beyond doubt the stability of the euro," he said.

Hollande insisted European leaders must consider "every possible option" for boosting growth when they meet informally next week, without adding to their deficits.

"We need to continue improving our public accounts while restoring growth. We will consider every possible option," he said.

He stressed that he hoped Greece would be able to stay in the eurozone, although like Cameron, he acknowledged that it was ultimately a matter for the Greek people.

"We would like Greece to remain in the eurozone but it is for the Greek people to answer that question," he said.

"But my response is that we should do everything to ensure they answer 'yes' to that question."

Earlier, Obama, who is pursuing his own economic stimulus package, met Hollande at the White House.

The US administration has welcomed what it has called "the evolving discussion and debate" in Europe on the "imperative for jobs and growth" since Hollande's election.

Obama said the summit would promote a "strong growth agenda".

US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner applauded the softer tone emerging among European leaders.

"You are seeing them talk about a better balance between growth and austerity, meaning a somewhat more gradual, softer path toward restoring fiscal sustainability," he said.

Hollande confirmed to both Obama and Cameron that he would be withdrawing French combat troops from Afghanistan this year - in line with his election promise although he said they would continue in a training role.

At the opening working dinner on Friday night, the leaders were discussing recent events in Syria, Iran, Burma and North Korea.

The working sessions today will cover energy and climate change, food security and the future of Afghanistan after the majority of international forces have left in 2015.

The head of the Office for Budget Responsibility, Robert Chote, expressed concern that Britain may never recover from a second recession caused by a deepening eurozone crisis.

"The concern is that you end up with an outcome in the eurozone that creates the same sort of structural difficulties in the financial system and in the economy that we saw in the past recession, and that has consequences both for hitting economic activity in the economy, but also its underlying potential," he told the Guardian.

Chote said he was particularly concerned about the possibility that a second deep recession would leave permanent scars. "That means not just that the economy weakens and then strengthens again - it goes into a hole and comes out - but that you go down and you never quite get back up to where you started."

David Cameron is to hold his first face-to-face talks with Francois Hollande as they join world leaders in the US for a G8 summit set to be dominated by the eurozone crisis.

The Prime Minister has expressed confidence he will find "common ground" with the new socialist French president who swept to power on a promise of putting growth before austerity.

Mr Cameron has said that while he would do "whatever it takes" to shelter the UK from the fallout of the Greek debt crisis, the coalition's tough deficit-reduction strategy would stay.

But in an eve-of-summit article he put action to promote growth at the head of a wishlist of results from the gathering - and said he would push for new trade deals to achieve it.

Success at the G8 required "frank discussions on the issues that matter most for our security and prosperity" including "the resolve to return our own economies to strong and sustainable growth".

"We must renew our joint efforts to support growth, financial stability and energy security," he wrote on the Politics Home website amid mounting fears of a break-up of the single currency. And we must work together to give the world economy the one big stimulus that would really make a difference: an expansion of trade freedoms. So I will be pushing for progress on the trade deals that the EU is pursuing with three of our G8 partners: Japan, Canada and the US."

Measures agreed under the stymied Doha round of global trade talks to cut border red tape for goods should also be implemented and protectionist measures cracked down on, he is expected to say. He mentioned the Greek crisis only in passing, noting that a "stable and successful eurozone is an essential part of supporting the global recovery".

On Thursday night, he took part in what Downing Street said was a "constructive" conference call involving Mr Hollande, German chancellor Angela Merkel and Italian prime minister Mario Monti.

Number 10 said he used the call - also with European Council president Herman van Rompuy and EU Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso - to call for "decisive action" by the eurozone nations. They are all attending the G8 summit hosted by US president Barack Obama at the Camp David retreat along with the leaders of Japan, Russia and Canada.

Mr Cameron will sit down with his French counterpart in Washington for talks ahead of the full-scale discussions on how to prevent the eurozone crisis spiralling into a global disaster. On their agenda will also be Afghanistan - with the Prime Minister expected to press Mr Hollande about an election pledge to withdraw its 3,400 troops from the country this year.

The meeting comes after David Cameron said survival of the European single currency is in question, creating "huge risks" for Britain's economy.

In his starkest warning yet of the possible failure of the euro, Cameron said that the single currency now stands "at a crossroads" and must choose between "make up" or "break up".

He promised to do "whatever is necessary" to keep Britain safe if the euro falls apart.

SEE ALSO

• Cameron Warns On Euro Stability
• 'We Will Do Whatever It Takes To Keep Greece In The Euro'
• Fears Crisis Could Hit Britain