"The Prime Minister's closest advisers will be briefed this morning by senior executives at BP over the oil spill crisis in the Gulf of Mexico.
"It is understood that John Gerson, BP's director of security and public affairs and a former deputy head of MI6, will appraise officials from the No 10 Policy Unit.
"That briefing is aimed at advising the Prime Minister on the market sensitive information that BP's chief executive Tony Hayward will present to City analysts this afternoon. It will also update government officials on the state of BP's containment operation a mile down on the sea floor of the Gulf where the Macondo oil prospect blew 46 days ago."