Gordon Brown turned his back on tradition in 1997 when he arrived to deliver his first Mansion House speech wearing a lounge suit - rather than the traditional black tie. (The dress code for the event was relaxed from white tie the previous year.) In the course of his 10 years as Chancellor his stuck with what aides called his "working clothes" for the annual speech to the City. His choice of suit was said to have presented the 350 guests with a dilemma: should they take their cue from the Chancellor or from Alderman Roger Cork, the Lord Mayor? Even for his final speech, delivered in June 2007, Mr Brown did not relent. So, ten years, eleven speeches, eleven lounge suits: but can you spot the difference?

Perhaps, though, Mr Brown's informality needs to be put into context: this is the same Mr Brown who last year remained notably buttoned-up on his 'businesslike' visit to George Bush at Camp David, in contrast to the blue corduroys, memorably described as "ball-crushingly tight", which Tony Blair had worn. One can only imagine what Mr Blair might have worn to tone down the dress code at the Mansion House dinner.

Mr Darling, however, towed the line for his first outing, wearing black tie.

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