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Gordon Brown's hopes of standing shoulder to shoulder with Barack Obama against the global economic slump have been dealt a severe public relations blow.

The prime minister is in Washington to hold talks with the US president, but a planned join press conference between the two men has been called off, officially because of snow in the Rose Garden at the White House.

Amid anger from lobby journalists who have flown to DC with Mr Brown, the White House said the half-hour press conference would be replaced with a "pool-spray", where a small group of journalists quickly ask two or three questions.

The change reflects President Obama's busy schedule - he also has talks at the department of transportation, the department of the interior and with a delegation from the Boy Scouts of America.

But the result is that Mr Brown is robbed of his crucial PR goal of appearing next to the new president surrounded by flags and circumstance, although British government sources are keen to argue it is not a snub.

Prior to his trip, Mr Brown said he was flying to Washington to promote a coordinated response to the global recession.

"Past British prime ministers have gone to Washington to talk about wars," he said.

"I'm going to talk about stability for the future."

Today's talks with Mr Obama, which mark the first time a European leader has met the new president, will be followed by a speech to both houses of Congress by the prime minister tomorrow.

The speech is considered an honour in Downing Street – the fifth time a British prime minister has been asked to do so.

Mr Brown will carry with him a gift to the president – a penholder carved from the wood of HMS Gannet, sister ship of HMS Resolute, the timbers of which were used to make the Oval Office desk.

British aides will be hoping the gift carries the same weight as that which Tony Blair gave George Bush – a statuette of Winston Churchill, which Mr Bush gave pride of place during his presidency.

The two leaders have the power to give each other considerable political comfort.
Mr Brown wishes to bask in President Obama's popularity, make political capital out of being the first European leader asked to come to the White House, and – most importantly – frame his own fiscal stimulus plan next to the much more substantive one forced through by the US president.

For his part, Mr Brown offers President Obama a sturdy partner in Afghanistan, whose commitment to a large British troop presence can help convince fellow Europeans to commit more manpower to the conflict. He will also offer backing to Mr Obama's green agenda – currently facing sustained opposition domestically.

And with the leader's stimulus plans so similar, Mr Obama will be hoping to convince Republicans that his method of dealing with the financial crisis is part of an international consensus on the subject.

Praising Mr Obama's economic stimulus package, the prime minister said: "If America and Britain did similar things for the economy then the effects would be magnified."

While Mr Brown was keen to highlight the differences between his approach to the 'special relationship' and that of his predecessor, Mr Blair, his comment on not travelling to Washington to plan a war were quickly followed by outlines for a partnership dedicated to establishing a new international regulatory system for the crisis.

"I want to talk about the renewal of our relationship for new times," he told talkSPORT.

"I think the impression [President Obama] has given of America to the world is transformative. I think people's view of America is changing as a result."

The two men will concentrate on plans for next months G20 meeting in London next month, where world leaders are expected to make significant gains on a "global new deal".

Afghanistan, the Middle East, climate change and education programmes in the developing world are also expected to be addressed.