Exclusive:Sir Keir Starmer reveals his favourite Scottish dish at first No.10 St Andrew's Day event in a decade
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer welcomed guests to Number 10 Downing Street to ‘celebrate Scotland’
Sir Keir Starmer has spoken about wanting Scotland to be the "beating heart" of a renewed Britain under his government. But when it comes to life’s simple pleasures, the Prime Minister, like many of us, also has his own preferred Scottish dish.
Speaking exclusively to The Scotsman at No. 10 Downing Street this week, Sir Keir spoke openly about his love for Scotland’s food and drink.
Those paying attention during last year’s general election campaign trail might remember that Sir Keir went on Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch to cook his favourite meal, tandoori salmon.
The recipe comes from Mister Satty Singh's India in Glasgow - the Elderslie Street restaurant that was introduced to Sir Keir by Scottish Labour leader Anas Sawar.
Speaking as a special guest on The Scotsman’s latest episode of food and drink podcast Scran, Sir Keir, who is pescatarian, said: “Anas and I have been to Mister Singh’s restaurant I don’t know how many times.
“That’s when Satty [Singh] first served me the tandoori salmon, which is absolutely fantastic. I was so taken with this Scottish salmon that not only did he give me some of the marinade, he told me how to make it.”
A delighted Mr Singh said: “This is the furthest home delivery we’ve done. I think it’s about 400 miles.” He also spoke of his gratitude at being invited to cater at No.10, a first in the business’s 30-year history.
According to Mr Sarwar, not only did the Prime Minister get the recipe from Mr Singh on his first visit, he “took home about two vats of the marinade, which is now frozen, and he cooks the dish regularly”.
The makings of the dish were a lighter note during a tumultuous week at Downing Street that included the early publishing of the Office for Budget Responsibility’s UK Budget forecast on Wednesday.
The Prime Minister’s week had started with a celebration of Scotland. Invited guests, including The Scotsman, gathered at No.10 on Monday for a pre-St Andrew’s Day event. The famous building was lit up in blue, with a Saltire flying atop and mini Saltire flag bunting hung throughout rooms inside.
This was the first St Andrew’s Day event at No.10 in a decade and was welcomed back by Sir Keir, who said he would like to open his home more often to members of the public who he wants to feel are “here by entitlement”.
A discussion about Scottish food and drink would be remiss without mentioning whisky. While the Prime Minister would not be drawn on a call for a duty freeze on Scotland’s ‘national drink’, he did say that trade deal talks “are progressing”.
He also spoke about his love of a dram, including an unexpected incident with former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner.
“I've got a very special whisky, from a dear friend who sadly died,” the Prime Minister said. “So I've got that up in the flat. Actually, when I say I've got it, I was preserving this beautiful bottle of whisky because he was a dear friend and he died far too early.
“But one night, when Angela Rayner came around for a catch up and a drink, she grabbed the bottle and was half a tumbler in before I could tell her I was preserving [it]. But she said ‘Johnny would've loved me to have opened it’.”
Sir Keir also spoke of his recent holiday to Dumfries and Galloway, calling a drive to Wick “absolutely stunning”. He said he hoped more and more people nationwide would celebrate Burns Night.
After the successful return of St Andrew’s Day to the heart of government in London, the sight of the Saltire flying tall again on January 25 to honour Scotland’s national bard could be one to watch out for.
To listen to this episode of Scran, please search Scran wherever you get your podcasts.
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