Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth met Geoff Hoon for a curry as coup plot simmered

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Plotters: Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth and Geoff Hoon

Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth met Geoff Hoon for a curry as coup plot simmered

Peter Dominiczak
11.01.10

The owner of a south London curry house has told how Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth was “laughing and joking” last week with the ringleader of a plot to topple Gordon Brown.

Zalal Uddin showed the Cabinet minister and Labour MP Geoff Hoon to a private room in his restaurant, Gandhi's, days before Mr Hoon called for a leadership ballot.

There are suspicions in Downing Street that Mr Ainsworth was in league with the rebels and may yet resign from the Government over disagreements with Mr Brown.

The minister's friends say he has not considered quitting and is just a friend of Mr Hoon.

“Bob Ainsworth and Geoff Hoon were in here last week,” said Mr Uddin.

“They come in a lot so there was nothing unusual. There was one other person dining with them as well, but I'm not sure who she was.

“I have a small room in the back of the restaurant and that is where they normally sit so they can get some privacy.

"We never listen to our customer's conversations but there was nothing different about how they were acting. They were laughing and joking while they were having their dinner.”

A friend of Mr Ainsworth said: “Bob and Geoff have been friends for 15 years, they regularly go out together.

"It is ridiculous to say he might resign because of that. The people saying this have an agenda of their own.”

Gandhi's in Kennington has been popular with leading figures from the Labour and Tory parties since it was opened by Mr Uddin nearly 30 years ago.

He said: “We have been cooking curries for Gordon Brown for many years. I am a big fan of Mr Brown.
He saved our economy from collapse. It's amazing that these kinds of things are happening in my restaurant though.”

Gandhi's also provided late-night takeaways for Alistair Darling and Treasury officials working into the night during the banking bail-out.

Regulars include Jack Straw, Sir John Major and Kenneth Clarke.

“To me they are not famous politicians, they are just my regular customers,” said the owner.

“We are busy running around with customers, and we don't stand there and listen to what they want to talk about. We just provide them with their meal and keep away from them.”