UK bailout is sealed over chicken curry

BY OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

LONDON

Oct. 9: Britain’s £500 billion bank bailout deal was sealed over a takeaway curry meal costing a mere £245.

The meal of rice, karahi lamb, tandoori chicken, vegetable curry and aloo gobi was delivered at chancellor of exchequer Alistair Darling’s treasury office where he along with his team was working out the bank bailout deal, according to the Guardian.

Gandhi’s Restaurant, which was set up in 1983 in Kennington, south London, is Mr Darling’s favourite restaurant and he regularly dines there.

The restaurant, which is a few minutes walk away from the Oval cricket ground, has testimonials from a range of politicians about the quality of its food on its website.

Going by the glowing testimonials, which include one by Mr Darling, the Indian restaurant is a favourite among politicians. Starting from Prime Minister Gordon Brown, glowing testimonials to Gandhi’s food have been given by former home secretary John Reid, justice secretary Jack Straw, former Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown, and former Prime Minister John Major.

The restaurant, which gives 10 per cent discount on all its takeaway orders, has also been voted one of the top 100 Indian Restaurants in Great Britain and one of the top 15 in London in the National Curry Awards 2005 and 2006.

During the bailout discussions, Mr Darling had in his team Paul Myners, treasury minister for City; minister for economic competitiveness and small business Shriti Vadera, treasury chief secretary Yvette Cooper, treasury permanent secretary Nicholas Macpherson and treasury official Tom Scholar.

The bankers involved in the discussion included Sir Fred Goodwin of the Royal Bank of Scotland, Eric Daniels of Lloyds TSB, John Varley of Barclays, HBOS chief Andy Hornby and Sir Mervyn Davies, chairman of Standard Chartered.