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Brown casts out Bush's jacket gift
Evening Standard22 Jul 2008
Gordon Brown has given to charity a brown leather bomber jacket presented to him by George Bush.
The fur-trimmed jacket was a gift brought home from the Prime Minister's first trip to America last summer.
Emblazoned with the presidential seal and the logo of Camp David, the presidential retreat, it was completed with a black patch bearing the name "Rt Hon Gordon Brown".
It was clearly not in keeping with Mr Brown's usual style of business suit and tie.
Gifts to a serving premier belong to the State - unless the incumbent chooses to buy them for a token price - and are usually auctioned for charity.
Mr Brown has declined to buy any of his gifts, which also include four Christmas hampers from Middle East countries and two cases of wine from French President Nicolas Sarkozy.
