THE Capital will host its first Lord Provost's banquet aimed at raising thousands of pounds for good causes in Edinburgh.
An anonymous benefactor has agreed to pay for the event, which will see more than 400 leading figures from all walks of Scottish life come together to discuss issues of importance to Scotland.
The event will be modelled on Lord Mayor's Banquet in
London where traditionally the serving Prime Minister makes a major world affairs speech. Among the speakers lined up for the Lord Provost's banquet are First Minister Alex Salmond and the former Irish prime minister Bertie Ahern.
The event is scheduled to take place on April 15 next year at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre. The charitable beneficiaries of the fundraising event have still to be decided.
Lord Provost George Grubb said: "Our city is the national major centre for business, so this event is the ideal opportunity for some of the most influential people from different spheres of Scottish life to come together to build relationships that will benefit our country as a whole."
Councillor Grubb added that the private benefactor has no business or commercial interests with the council. It is thought the event will cost at least £30,000 to stage, with the hope that it will become an annual fixture.
City leader Councillor Jenny Dawe said: "Although we are the organising body, the funding is being provided by a private benefactor who believes that Scotland should have its own event similar to the Lord Mayor's Banquet in London.
"We are very grateful to that individual for planting the seed for what we hope can become a prestigious annual event."
Ron Hewitt, chief executive of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, added: "I very much welcome this initiative and I am sure that the business community will be supportive.
The banquet will provide a unique opportunity for us to come together to discuss how we can take our city forward."
The London Lord Mayor's banquets date back centuries and today are part of a trio of important dinner dates in the UK political calendar.
The other Lord Mayor events include the Chancellor of the Exchequer delivering an address known as the Mansion House Speech, as well as the Easter Banquet speech delivered by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
Mr Ahern said: "Capital cities need to be at the centre of creating links and opportunities for the sake of the country as a whole.
"This is an ambitious move for Edinburgh, but no less than I would expect for the capital city of a nation which has good reason to be confident about its strengths and future."
A proposal for the event will be discussed at the council's policy and strategy committee on November 4.
The full article contains 472 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
