Commons rules relationship with US no longer 'special'

MORE than 60 years after Winston Churchill first coined the expression to describe Britain's alliance with America, MPs have finally called time on the "special relationship".

The cross-party Commons Foreign Affairs Committee said the well-worn phrase no longer accurately characterised the relationship between the countries and should be dropped.

While the committee stressed Britain remained close to America, they said it was important to recognise it was just one of a series of relationships the US has with key allies.

"The use of the phrase 'the special relationship' in its historical sense is potentially misleading, and we recommend it should be avoided," the committee said.