Aussies watch UK Labour crumble

Political junkies and diplomats braved the Canberra cold to attend a UK election breakfast - but some didn't think the poll would carry many lessons for Australia.

Australia's election is expected later this year.

The British High Commission organised Friday's breakfast, erecting screens at the National Press Club so people could watch as seats fell on the other side of world.

While Brits had to stay up well past midnight to watch the results, it was less tiring for Australians - most results came in after 9am.

By the time the croissants had been eaten it had become clear that Prime Minister Gordon Brown was in trouble as the Conservatives took the lead.

In the UK, a Labour government which had been in power for 13 years was facing the voters during dire economic circumstances.

Australia's Labor government is in its first term and the economy is faring better than the UK's.

Mr Green also pointed to differences in the electoral systems - in Britain voting is voluntary, there is no election TV advertising, and campaigns are based more on door-to-door campaigning.

"The campaigning is done much more locally," Mr Green said of the UK.

Election buzz

A spokesman for the High Commission said the election buzz had caught on in Australia.

"It's been very exciting, it's nice to be able to participate in the atmosphere, the excitement back in the UK," he told AAP from the breakfast.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was talking up Mr Brown's leadership, despite him apparently flailing in the election.

Mr Brown was a "fantastic Prime Minister" and a "really good man", Mr Rudd told radio stations on Friday.

He praised his British counterpart for taking a strong lead at a G20 summit held to tackle the financial crisis last year.

"Gordon Brown, whatever the judgment may be made of him in the British elections, should be honoured ... Gordon actually made it work," Mr Rudd told ABC Radio of the G20 meeting.