Gordon Brown will urge America's political elite today to shun protectionism and work with "your friend" Europe and the rest of the world to solve the global economic crisis.

In a speech to both Houses of Congress, Mr Brown will call on the US not to turn in on itself, warning that the financial problems facing them are global and can be dealt with only if they "seize the moment" and resort to international co-operation.

The Prime Minister will attempt to speak on behalf of the European Union as a whole when he says that - for the first time in living memory - the entire region is united in wanting to work with America.