US President Barack Obama joked that David Cameron took some time off and walked around central Chicago
British PM David Cameron was yesterday accused of ‘sneaking off’ from the NATO summit to go sightseeing in Chicago.u00a0US President Barack Obama told reporters that Cameron slunk away from the talks to enjoy a relaxing stroll around the city.
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Obama seemed proud that the prime minister wanted to take a closer look at his home city.u00a0Aides said Cameron left the summit when it ended and had around two hours before his commercial flight back to London.
He spent some of the time walking around central Chicago before visiting the British consulate in the city, Obama’s home town.u00a0But the intervention may be less than helpful for Cameron, who has been forced to defend himself against claims that he is too fond of ‘chillaxing’ when he should be getting on with the business of government.
A recent biography has described Cameron as spending much of his time as prime minister “chillaxing” and playing computer games.u00a0Cameron this week dismissed the book as “a novel” and insisted he is extremely dedicated to his work.
On a two day trip to Australia last year, Cameron left a Commonwealth summit early to visit a winery.u00a0Obama made the joke while talking to reporters after the summit, which he said had shown off Chicago on the world stage.
“I encouraged everybody to shop, want to boost the hometown economy,” Obama said of his fellow NATO leaders.u00a0“If you talk to leaders from around the world, they love the city,” Obama said. “I was just talking to David Cameron — I think he’s sneaking off doing a little sightseeing before he goes home.”
Speaking at a Nato summit in Chicago on Sunday, Cameron dismissed reports that he spends too much time “chillaxing” or playing computer games. “The job of Prime Minister is extremely demanding, and takes huge dedication and work”, he said.
Cameron, the vacationer
In 2011, David Cameron enjoyed five holidays. David treated his wife to a weekend in Granada for her 40th birthday, and the whole family enjoyed short trips to Polzeath in Cornwall and the Spanish holiday island Ibiza.u00a0