British Prime Minister Gordon Brown congratulated US president-elect Barack Obama Wednesday, hailing his `energising politics... his progressive values and his vision for the future`.

`I would like to offer my sincere congratulations to Barack Obama on winning the presidency of the United States,` he said in a statement.

`The relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom is vital to our prosperity and security... Barack Obama ran an inspirational campaign, energising politics with his progressive values and his vision for the future.`