British Prime Minister David Cameron has encouraged President Obama to leave the first lady at home during his trip to the United Kingdom for the Group of Eight summit in June.
British sources say Mr. Cameron’s decision to ban significant others is to ensure that leaders remain “focused” on issues such as tackling tax avoidance, The Daily Mail reports.
Officials say that though they can’t legally prohibit leaders from bringing their wives, they are hoping they can persuade them otherwise.
“The Prime Minister wants the G8 to be small, intimate and focused on the three issues of the day — tax, trade and transparency,” a spokesman for No. 10 Downing Street said. “Other issues, like the role of spouses at the G8, are yet to be confirmed.”
If the leaders comply, the likes of Michelle Obama and Valerie Trierweiler, girlfriend of French Socialist President Francois Hollande, will not attend the summit, being held at the luxury Lough Erne resort in Northern Ireland, The Mail reports.
• Jessica Chasmar can be reached at jchasmar@washingtontimes.com.
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