Mystery as Barack Obama seen outside No10 Downing Street for unannounced visit

18 March 2024 , 15:56

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Mystery as Barack Obama seen outside No10 Downing Street for unannounced visit

Former US president Barack Obama has made a surprise appearance in Downing Street.

Mr Obama smiled and waved at photographers before he entered No 10 shortly after 3pm. Downing Street later said Mr Obama - who has not visited No10 since leaving office - was making an "informal courtesy drop-in" while in the UK capital.

The ex-President, who served in the White House from 2009 to 2017, was seen leaving around an hour later with US ambassador Jane Hartley. He held a meeting with Rishi Sunak, who is currently having a difficult time at the helm..

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: "He was making an informal courtesy drop-in as part of his trip to London, where he is conducting work of the Obama Foundation." The two men met in the Number 10 study at 3pm.

Barack Obama smiled and waved before going inside No10 (Getty Images)

Mr Sunak's spokesman went on: "I think President Obama's team made contact and obviously the Prime Minister was very happy to meet with him and discuss the work of the Obama Foundation." The foundation was set up to encourage people to "turn hope into action".

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Mr Obama's visit comes as the PM tries to stave off a growing Tory rebellion. Earlier today Mr Sunak laughed in a reporter's face after being asked when he will finally call a general election. The Tory leader is under huge pressure to go to the polls after bottling a May election, with Labour branding him a "squatter".

Mr Sunak is now being dogged by rumours that rebel Tories could try to oust him and put Penny Mordaunt in charge in a desperate bid to prevent a wipeout later this year. Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch this morning urged disgruntled Conservatives to stop "messing around" and back the PM.

Referring to Mr Sunak's detractors, she said: "These people who are going around are being self indulgent but this is part and parcel of politics." And quizzed if she had a message to plotters, she said: "People need to stop messing around and get behind the PM."

Dave Burke