Alistair Darling's aides were caught off guard yesterday when the chancellor's keynote speech at the Labour conference in Manchester began ahead of schedule.
The reason he was ushered on so soon? Because Darling was being harangued by Hank Paulson, the US treasury secretary, to pledge Britain's support (as a member of the G7) for $700bn bailout of the financial industry, aware that an announcement was needed before the markets closed.
"What do you mean he's on the platform? Can't you get him off the platform?" asked a US aide unfamiliar with the intricacies of a British party conferences. "But he's speaking," replied the Darling camp. "Can't you get him to stop?" asked the aide.
In the event the G7 group of finance ministers issued a statement welcoming the US move at around 1.15pm UK time – three quarters of an hour after Darling rushed off stage.
