The election of Barack Obama as US President will bring about "fundamental change in America's relationship with the rest of the world", Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said.
Mr Miliband said that the handover of power in Washington would have "big and positive" effects for Britain, ushering in a foreign policy agenda which chimed with the UK's priorities of reform for international institutions, action on climate change and progress in the Middle East.
His comments came as Prime Minister Gordon Brown promised to work with the president-elect on a "progressive" agenda to build a fairer global society.
Mr Brown said that US voters had shown they back the belief, shared by Mr Obama and the Labour Government, in the duty of government to intervene to help families and businesses during the current economic downturn.
But shadow foreign secretary William Hague interpreted the Democratic senator's victory differently, arguing it showed the appetite for "change" among electorates around the world.
Mr Miliband told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show: "The result of Tuesday's election isn't just a realignment within American politics, it also heralds fundamental change in America's relationship with the rest of the world.
"I think that will have big and positive effects for Britain."
Without drawing a direct contrast with the administration of George Bush, Mr Miliband made clear he expects Mr Obama's foreign policy approach to differ radically from that of his Republican predecessor.
"He is an instinctive multi-lateralist," said the Foreign Secretary. "He is clear that issues of the environment and climate change as well as issues of security are at the heart of foreign policy.
"He has also made clear that he understands that there is a new world out there and you can't run the world from the G7 countries, you have to fashion a global settlement that includes the Chinas and Indias of this world, but also the developing countries.
