US presidential hopeful to speak at Tory conference

A leading US presidential hopeful is to address the Conservative Party's annual conference in October.

John McCain, the front-runner to become the Republican candidate in the 2008 contest, is expected to speak on the first day of the Tories' gathering in Bournemouth.

His attendance has been interpreted as a thawing of relations between the Republicans and the Conservatives since David Cameron took over as leader.

Mr Cameron's predecessor, Michael Howard, caused anger in the White House after he expressed concerns about the war in Iraq.

Earlier this year, Shadow Chancellor George Osborne, Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague and Shadow Defence Secretary Liam Fox visited Washington in a bid to improve relations.

The Times reported today that the idea of Mr McCain addressing the conference was first mooted when he was given a tour of the House of Commons by Mr Osborne last year.

A subsequent invitation by Mr Cameron has now been accepted by the Arizona senator, a Tory spokeswoman confirmed today.

The October gathering will be Mr Cameron's first as leader.