British PM serves Indian delicacies to soften critics

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has served India's famed chicken curry and other mouth-watering delicacies to woo disgruntled trade union bosses over the prickly issue of public spending cuts amid recession.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has served India's famed chicken curry and other mouth-watering delicacies to woo

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disgruntled trade union bosses over the prickly issue of public spending cuts amid recession.

Chequers, the premier's country residence, for once gave away the traditional beer and sandwiches for the eastern delicacies, the Daily Mail reported.

Brown is trying to prevent a threatened union revolt that could damage the Labour party's prospects at the next general election due by mid-2010.

At the dinner, Brown reportedly promised union leaders that he will not cut school and hospital jobs to deal with mounting national debt.

"While the prime minister made it clear that there will be tough choices on public spending in future years, he reiterated his commitment to the role of public services and manufacturing in Britain's future growth," a No 10 Downing Street spokesman said.

Among those invited was Derek Simpson, the leader of Britain's biggest trade union, Unite.