MP in audience for Obama’s address

Debbie Abrahams: delighted

Oldham MP Debbie Abrahams will today be among the select crowd listening to President Barack Obama as he addresses both Houses of Parliament during his state visit to the UK.

The Oldham East and Saddleworth MP was chosen through a ballot of MPs and peers to attend the momentous occasion when Mr Obama will address selected members of both Houses of Parliament in a speech in Westminster Hall.

Mr Obama has the rare honour of speaking in Westminster Hall as usually only monarchs address both Houses of Parliament here — heads of state are normally received in the Queen’s Robing Room or the Royal Gallery.

Mrs Abrahams said: “This is a moment in history I wanted to be a part of so I applied for a ticket as soon as we were asked to express an interest — and was delighted to get one.

“I’m really looking forward to hearing him speak. I visited family in the US before the 2008 election and, although I am also a Hillary fan, it was clear he had popular appeal.

“It took immense political courage to do what he did on health-care reform, something which former President Clinton failed to get through — he is still suffering politically as a result of that.

“For me, that is the measure of a person — you do something that you know is right although you know you may take a political hit. Americans will thank him in years to come I have no doubt of that.”

If Mrs Abrahams gets the chance to ask Mr Obama a question, it is expected to be on health-care or the Middle East.

The Pope became the third foreign leader since the Second World War to speak in Westminster Hall in September, 2010, following Nelson Mandela in 1996 and Charles de Gaulle in 1960.