Barack Obama repeatedly discouraged Joe Biden from running for the presidency to clear the path for Hillary Clinton, the former US vice president has claimed.

In his new memoirs published today, Mr Biden says that Mr Obama played up the appeal of leaving politics and gave little encouragement about a possible bid.

He says that Mr Obama’s pollster effectively told him he had “no real path to the nomination” and that running for the White House would “rock the boat”.

And Mr Biden even reveals suspicions that Mr Obama gave an “explicit commitment” of support to Mrs Clinton, believing she was best placed to secure his legacy.

Eventually Mr Biden declined to enter the race because of his son Beau’s death from cancer, clearing the way for Ms Clinton to clinch the Democratic nomination.