Mr Smith proposes policies to "create a new spirit and rhetoric of fraternity and national solidarity" - a national care service, a national day or a US-style state of the British union address.

BBC: Does it pay for politicians to be patriotic?

Senior US Democrats are demanding to know what Mr Bush knew about the allegation, and who pressed for it to be included in the State of the Union address, despite the doubts of US intelligence.

BBC: CIA takes blame for Iraq claims

The initiative, to which President George W. Bush is expected to refer in his "State of the Union" address on Tuesday, marks the latest phase in attempts by US authorities to ready the country for a bioterrorist attack.

BBC: Early warning system for bio-terror

EST, President Obama will deliver the State of the Union Address and outline his vision for putting aside the politics that divide us and moving forward to create jobs, up our game to out-compete in the global economy, and win the future for our children and our country.

WHITEHOUSE: Our Top Stories

The US president's executive order on Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity was issued in conjunction with his State of the Union address on Tuesday.

BBC: President Obama

Can you tell us, does he plan to actually begin working on the State of the Union address on this vacation?

WHITEHOUSE: Press Briefing

Many of the politicians in Washington, including President Obama during his State-of-the-Union address, piously tell us that there is no way to balance the budget without tax increases.

FORBES: Balancing The U.S. Budget Is Simple With Modest Fiscal Restraint

And in his State of the Union address on Wednesday, Obama himself made clear that the US will do nothing to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Keeping Zionism's promise