Senator Edward Kennedy, who has been battling against brain cancer, collapsed with convulsions in front of Barack Obama yesterday just minutes after the inauguration.

The last surviving brother of the Kennedy clan was rushed to hospital from the official inaugural lunch being held after the swearing-in ceremony.

Mr Obama, who is said to have rushed over to Mr Kennedy, 76, as he lay on the floor, opened his remarks to senators later by praising the liberal lion as a “warrior for justice” and civil rights. “I would be lying to you if I did not say that right now a part of me is with him,” he added. “I think that’s true for all of us. This is a joyous time. But it’s also a sobering time.”

At the Democratic convention last year, Mr Kennedy had invoked the spirit of his assassinated brothers by saying he was ready to “pass the torch” on to the next generation. The former Vice-President Walter Mondale said Mr Kennedy had been swapping stories when “something happened. I don’t know what it was, he just stopped – it was really kind of a shock to us all.”

Mr Kennedy was conscious when he left the room and even reassured friends that he would be back.

Mr Obama had some business to conduct with senators yesterday after the confirmation of Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State was blocked by John Cornyn. The Republican is insisting on “a full and open debate” over potential conflicts of interest in overseas donations to Bill Clinton’s charitable foundation.

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