"Hopes of an eleventh-hour deal to avert the BA strike were receding last night despite Gordon Brown urging the Unite union to call off its action.

"The Prime Minister put himself on collision course with Labour's biggest financial backer when he said that Unite's proposed walkout was unjustified and deplorable.

"However, despite hopes in Downing Street that both sides would return to the table, neither was prepared to budge."

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