No stitch-up, pleads Branson

Richard Branson is busy denying the (unlikely) rumours that he has stitched up a deal with Gordo over Northern Rock on the plane round India and China, with this rather nice riposte:

“We have avoided discussing the matter. If I did want to have a word with the Prime Minister I wouldn’t board a British Airways plane with 100 journalists and the two PR people from the rival consortium in order to have a conversation with the Prime Minister.”

Brown and Branson: Pleasure, not business