Revealed: What'll be on the menu at Chez Gordon Brown

Published on Tuesday 14 April 2009 22:03

THE political elite of Scotland will tonight gather around Prime Minister Gordon Brown's dinner table in North Queensferry to discuss saving the Scottish economy.

But instead of flying crockery it is hoped that Scotland's bitterest political foes will be able to put their differences aside to come up with solutions to help people get back to work.

The meal, featuring some of the best of Scottish produce, was arranged after First Minister Alex Salmond suggested that he attended the UK Cabinet meeting in Glasgow tomorrow with his ministers to discuss the Scottish economy and the recession.

The SNP leader's request to Mr Brown was turned down, but replaced with an offer to meet all the other Scottish political leaders for a cosy chat about the economy over dinner.

Mr Brown will also be joined by Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray, Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy, Scottish Conservative leader Annabel Goldie, Green co-convener Patrick Harvie, Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott, STUC general secretary Grahame Smith and CBI Scotland director Iain MacMillan.

The menu was chosen by the Prime Minister's wife, Sarah Brown, who will be hostess for the evening, from the renowned Edinburgh-based Scottish food merchants Valvona & Crolla, who will also be cooking the food.

Francesca Contini from Valvona & Crolla, said that the family-run business had been regular used by the Browns in the past, mainly for Mrs Brown's charity events. She said the Browns were fond of their Italian food, for which they are most famous, as well as the traditional Scottish produce they supply.

"It's a great honour and privilege for us to be involved in this event," she said.

The menu they will provide will be almost entirely made up of food produced in Scotland, from smoked salmon from a family-run business on North Uist to Scottish lamb supplied by Findlay's of Portobello.

Even the cheeses will be Scottish – blue Lanark, Isle of Mull cheddar and Criffel unpasteurised cheese from Loch Arthur.

According to UK government sources, the idea behind the meal is that it should symbolise efforts to boost Scottish industries. However, one part of the menu also reflects the need for frugality among politicians. According to the menu, the handmade lemon tart will be accompanied by "a few" raspberries.

This is the first time that the Prime Minister has hosted a dinner for all of Scotland's political leaders at his home, but he was reportedly optimistic that it would not end up with his best plates being thrown across the table.

And there was an expectation that the evening will be productive for Scotland beyond providing an unusual setting for debate among Scotland's political elite.

Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy, who had also been turned down after offering to attend the SNP's Scottish Government cabinet meetings, said: "This will be a great evening, the food will be excellent, as will the company.

"And I really think we will be able to get things done for Scotland."

A source close to Mr Salmond said that he intended to take the opportunity to discuss how increasing powers for the Scottish Parliament can help Scotland out of the recession.

"As well as wanting the proposed 500 million of spending cuts to be cancelled in the Budget, we are also calling for the Scottish Government and Parliament to have borrowing powers so we can take decisions needed to reflate the economy and overcome recession," he said.

"The Scottish Parliament recently voted for borrowing powers, with no votes cast against, and we hope that the Prime Minister will respond to the need for Holyrood to have greater economic powers so that we can address the economic challenges we face."