The king and Elton John Labour goes big to woo global business leaders

Labour governments were once famed for doing deals over beer and sandwiches in Downing Street. But under Keir Starmer, a charm offensive to win the backing of the world's most powerful bosses required a bit more.

- Richard Partington

After a rain-soaked day of meetings and speeches at the 15th-century Guildhall, in the heart of the City of London, hundreds of bosses from global firms including Goldman Sachs, BlackRock and HSBC were whisked by private coach, escorted by ceremonial military guard, to St Paul's Cathedral.

The order of the evening: an exclusive reception with King Charles, entertainment from Elton John, and dining by three-star Michelin chef Clare Smyth, as Labour pulled out all the stops to woo the captains of industry - helping to secure what it tallied as £63bn of foreign investment pledges.

It came after a glitzy bash at Lancaster House on Sunday night, in the more informal surrounds of a mansion on the Mall, a stone's throw from Buckingham Palace, where guests were treated to canapes, Chapel Down wine and BrewDog beer.

But there were tough problems to solve, too - including the fallout from an explosive cabinet row involving Louise Haigh, the transport secretary, after the Dubai-based company DP World threatened to withhold an announcement of £1bn of investment in Britain.