What Obama was really doing on Downing Street (and no, he and Rishi aren’t starting a podcast)

The former US president is well missed, writes Sean O’Grady. But he wasn’t in town this time round to talk trade or to organise a global coup and restore a more rational style of political debate. More’s the pity…

Barack Obama might be slightly greyer now than when he was in office, but this graceful, elegant and courteous statesman is well remembered as a friend to Britain (PA Wire)

I wonder how many people felt a pang of nostalgia as they saw the pictures of Barack Obama striding down Downing Street to pay a “courtesy visit” to the prime minister. It’s the correct description. God, we miss him.

Just for a fleeting moment, don’t you find yourself thinking about how much better the world would be now with Obama in charge – and not his aged understudy? At 62, he is the youngest living former president – and by some margin more youthful in every way than Joe Biden and Donald Trump (whose childishness doesn’t count).

Age isn’t everything (and ageism is an evil) – but the point is that Obama was an inspirational, articulate and principled figure who will probably still be so when he reaches his ninth decade. It is, indeed, an uncomfortable reminder of the “Hobson’s choice” that the American people find themselves presented with come November.