Tony Blair bestrode the world in an exclusive British Airways jet and had plans for a special aircraft that became known as “BlairForce One”. Gordon Brown has had to slum it in a bog-standard charter that might as well be called “BrownForce None”.

As head of Her Majesty’s Government, the Prime Minister was expected to display the Union Jack with pride when he arrived to visit the US President. But the rear of his charter aircraft was adorned with silver stars surrounding a blazing sun, more akin to the flag of the European Union than the Union Jack.

There were no scheduled flights available with British Airways, BMI or Virgin for Mr Brown’s trip, forcing him to visit the world’s most powerful man in a virtually unrecognisable rental. His 757 also had to queue for several minutes at the edge of the runway waiting for take-off. Perhaps he is just one of many passengers who will do anything to avoid BA’s troubled Terminal 5.

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