The London mayor, Boris Johnson, has endorsed the US presidential candidate Barack Obama, saying a win for him would be a "fantastic boost" for black people.
While the Conservative leader, David Cameron, has been careful not to express a preference about the outcome of November's US presidential election, Johnson laid bare his support for the US Democrat candidate in an interview with Square Mile magazine.
The mayor said an Obama victory would do "wonderful things for the confidence of black people around the world".
He made his comments in response to being asked whether, in light of London's problems with knife crime, a win for Obama would "have a beneficial influence on the self-image of some of London's black male youth".
Johnson replied: "I was looking at him on the news and just thinking what an amazing moment this is... watching his speech in Berlin and thinking what a critical moment this is for America and for attitudes towards what they can achieve amongst the black community.
"If Barack Obama can do it, it will be the most fantastic boost, I think, for black people everywhere around the world...
"I think [Republican candidate] John McCain has many, many wonderful qualities... but I think a Barack Obama victory would do fantastic things for the confidence and the feelings of black people around the world - that they can win."
Asked if he endorsed Obama, he said: "Yes."
Johnson also used the interview to say his new role made him feel like "a greased bounding panther"
"My legs are steel springs and every day I get out of bed and I beat my chest.
"Every morning I am full of wonderment that the people of London have done the honour of making me their mayor. I really am."
Johnson's comments on Obama are unlikely to be echoed by Cameron, despite his successful one-hour meeting with Obama on Saturday, after the presidential candidate had met Gordon Brown.
The Tory leader, who gave Obama a box of CDs of some of his favourite British musicians, is attracted to the Democrat candidate's slate as the face of "change" in US politics.
The two share a common interest in fostering greater social responsibility by individuals within society. In a Guardian interview last month, Cameron endorsed criticism by Obama of absent black fathers.
But, aware that a future Tory government would have to work with either Obama or McCain, Conservative Central Office has made a point of staying neutral.
A Tory spokeswoman said: "We do not favour a particular candidate and we would certainly not get involved in another nation's domestic elections."