Your chance to have dinner with Obama ... for a cool £500!
FORMER US President Barack Obama is to make his first visit to Scotland next month.
The 44th President will address business leaders in Edinburgh at a fundraising event for charity.
The dinner, on May 26, will take place during his first trip to Europe since leaving office in January
Tickets for a table of ten are expected to go on sale for about £5,000.
The event, at Edinburgh International Conference Centre, is being organised by the Hunter Foundation and Sir Tom Hunter, who has also helped bring former President Bill Clinton to Scotland as well as Hollywood stars George Clooney and Leonardo DiCaprio.
Although President Obama did not make it to Scotland during his time in office, he urged Scots to back the UK just hours before the 2014 independence referendum.
Writing on Twitter, he said: ‘The UK is an extraordinary partner for America and a force for good in an unstable world. I hope it remains strong, robust and united.’
Organisers hope that because he is ‘less restricted’ as he is no longer serving as President he will be freer to speak about current global, UK and Scottish politics.
Sir Tom, who is currently out of the country, hailed President Obama’s visit as a dream come true last night.
The idea was first brought up two years ago when former US Ambassador Matthew Barzun, who ran President Obama’s re-election campaign, spoke at an event in Scotland.
Sir Tom raised the prospect of a visit with him and it has now paid
‘It was a bit of a dream’
off. The businessman said: ‘The seed was put in and it was a bit of a dream until this morning when it was all officially confirmed, so it is actually going to happen and I couldn’t be more delighted.’
The event will be open to businesses and others who want to pay for a table at the charity evening. However, a table will be reserved for local school children.
Sir Tom said: ‘I don’t think there has ever been more busy or interesting times in terms of politics so it would just be great to hear from a former leader of the free world what his take is on everything that is happening.
‘We are really delighted he has chosen Scotland to deliver one of his first speeches since leaving the White House.
‘I think it will be broad, it’s not just going to be about business. I’d love to hear from him about what he’s going to be doing with his foundation post-presidency.’
The businessman added: ‘You never know, I have no idea what he is going to be happy getting into. But he is certainly less restricted than when he was President.’
It is not yet know if President Obama’s wife Michelle will visit Scotland with him, but Sir Tom said he would be delighted it if she and the couple’s two daughters, Malia and Sasha, could make the journey.
He added: ‘We would love if Michelle and the rest of the family would come to Scotland, we could show them some good oldfashioned Scottish hospitality.’
All profits raised by the Edinburgh event will be invested in charities supporting young people in Scotland.