The disappearance of Madeleine McCann was discussed yesterday by Gordon Brown when he raised concerns about the investigation with the Portuguese Prime Minister.
Brown thanked Jose Socrates for his government’s help in trying to track down four-year-old Madeleine after she disappeared from her bed in the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz 68 days ago.
During talks at 10 Downing Street, Brown said he had been assured by Socrates that everything had been done to find the missing girl.
Madeleine’s parents, Kate and Gerry McCann of Rothley, Leicestershire, were concerned over delays early on in the police investigation and a lack of information released to the public.
Brown said: “I have talked to Madeleine McCann’s parents. I have heard from them their appreciation of the work that has been done in this investigation.
“Obviously there are issues they want to be assured about and I have raised these with the Portuguese Prime Minister.
“He has assured me that everything that can be done will be done and obviously we look for progress in something that’s heart-rending in its sadness, that a young child can be separated from her parents for so long.”
Socrates said: “It’s important for Great Britain but it’s important for Portugal, and it’s very touching in public opinion in Great Britain but also in Portugal.
“We have dedicated to this investigation all the resources we have in order to give it high priority and we are doing our best. Everyone in Portugal and the family knows we are doing our best.”
