David Cameron has agreed to be President and William Hague Vice
President of a new national Conservative Party Group initiated by
Michael Fabricant: Conservative Friends of America.

The CFA has been formed following meetings in Lichfield and Westminster
called by officials of the US State Department with Michael Fabricant
who has recently taken political groups to the US, has presented bills
in the House of Commons fostering the UK-US alliance, and who was
educated for a period in California and Massachusetts.

"We came to the conclusion that with the conflicts in Iraq and
Afghanistan, we can no longer take for granted the ‘special
relationship’ that has endured between the UK and the United States"
says Michael. "Like any successful relationship, you have to work at
it. We have therefore decided to establish a Conservative Friends of
America whose stated aim is ‘To promote friendship and mutual
understanding between the Conservative Party and the people and
government of the United States of America’. I am delighted that David
Cameron and William Hague have agreed to be CFA’s President and Vice
President respectively. Patrons of the Group include Michael Howard and
former Foreign Secretary, Sir Malcolm Rifkind.

"Initially, CFA will only be open to Conservative Parliamentarians in
both Houses and the European Parliament though we hope to expand
membership to Party supporters in 2009. Meetings will be held in the
Houses of Parliament with key players in the US political scene and
government and we are hoping for a lively and informed exchange of
views" Michael adds.

The first major event is likely to take place at the end of the year,
after the US Elections. Thereafter, three or four events are planned
annually.