"A genuinely private matter"

David Beckham was in Downing Street tonight for a meeting with Gordon Brown. Ben Brogan has questioned why the Prime Minister felt the need to obfuscate when asked directly about the meeting this morning, during the press conference. Alistair Darling smiled knowingly at the question but the Prime Minister looked stern and talked about "no specific plans", the broganblog reports.

A Downing Street spokesman said the meeting was a “genuinely private matter” and that Beckham had been invited at the behest of Mr Brown.

Fine, but then flick over to a post on the Mirror website by Bob Roberts, the paper's political editor. He reveals he was standing outside Downing Street "for a quick chat with David Beckham and a little exclusive story about Goldenballs' secret talks with Gordon Brown."

Updated .... Enthusiastically embracing the never-wrong-for-long concept of the internet, the Mirror has pointed out that they were not actually invited inside Downing Street, but "in Downing Street" meant were standing in the cold outside for nuggets from Beckham. That said, news of the meeting was slipped out in advance in their excellent exclusive on Saturday.

Comments

[ORDOVICIUS]

Beckham and Brown have been mates for ages, and are often seen down the pub together playing darts over a pint. Honest!

[Tony Makara]

This is all about David Beckham trying to get Gordon Brown to convince Fabbio Capello to give David Beckham his 100th cap for England so that the Beckham industry can market all those shirts with a golden number '100' on the back.

No doubt they touched on China's plans to re-evaluate the Yuan too!

[AJS]

Are you not in the circle of Brown love anymore Sam?

[john problem]

Actually, Gordon wanted to ask David if he knew any football phrases in Italian - so that he could impress Fabio at the next important English game. David told him he had heard of 'cacciatura', 'cattenacio' and 'coloratura', but that he personally preferred 'longua balla'. Gordon said thanks and told him that he, David, would be up for a knighthood at the next honours. David asked if Gordon needed a donation - 'I've got plenty' he said - whereupon Gordon started biting his nails and said he had an urgent appointment elsewhere.