But the lethal cocktail of politics, national champions and defence interests ensured it turned into a blurred, politicised mess.

ECONOMIST: Distrustful

Andrew Rosindell urged the PM to "show bulldog spirit" in a "resolute and uncompromising defence of British national interests".

BBC: Boris Johnson adds to Tory EU referendum pressure on PM

"The president agreed that... the policy wasn't working for our national interests, that he committed to change that policy, that he's working with the Secretary of Defence and the joint chiefs on making that happen, " said White House spokesman Robert Gibbs last month.

BBC: Obama extends same-sex benefits