Prime Minister Theresa May has hosted the first Burns Supper to be held at Downing Street to celebrate the “enduring union” between Scotland and England.
The traditional event was organised to commemorate the life and work of the famous poet Robert Burns.
Scottish businessmen and politicians were invited to attend the three course dinner last night with the prime minister and her husband and the Secretary of State for Scotland David Mundell.
But despite top executives from the financial sector being invited, there was no sign of anyone on the guest list from the Royal Bank of Scotland.
The taxpayer-owned Scottish bank could have been expected to have been among the great and the good celebrating the life of the Scots national bard.
But the bank’s recent decision to axe hundreds of branches across the UK has sparked a backlash, particularly with residents living in remote parts of Scotland.
London-based banker Sir Henry Angest and Keith Sceogh, the chief executive of savings and investment firm Standard Life, were on the guest list for the event along with Jayne Anne Gadhia of Virgin Money.
The chairman and executive director of Edinburgh-based merchant bank Noble Grossart was also invited.
Masterchef winner Gary Maclean, from Glasgow, took over the Downing Street kitchen for the day to prepare the three course meal, made up of fresh produce from a range of Scottish suppliers including Farmlay Eggs from Aberdeenshire.
Along with the traditional plate of haggis, he served up Highland venison and the chocolate pistachio Drambuie dessert which helped him win the trophy on the hit TV show.
Mr Maclean said: “I’m incredibly honoured to cook for the prime minister and showcase the best Scottish produce, sourced from local farms and dairies for this evening’s Burns Supper.”
Speaking ahead of the event, Mrs May said the evening was a sign of the “enduring union” between Scotland and England.
She said: “Scotland is a greatly valued part of our United Kingdom and its contribution to the UK is immense – economically, socially, and culturally.
“And Robert Burns is a great example of that, as one of our finest poets, famous world-wide.
“I’m very much looking forward to this evening and the chance to celebrate a great poet, a great nation and an enduring union.”
