Armed police in Chorley as G7 Speaker's Summit gets underway

Armed police will be on patrol in Chorley over the next few days as the town gets ready to welcome political figures from around the world.

It's the G7 speaker event led by Chorley MP and Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle.

Each year, the Speaker or Presiding Officer of the G7 host country holds a Conference, following the annual leaders’ summit.

Representatives from France, Italy, Canada, Japan and Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi will be heading to Astley Hall for the conference.

The gathering allows Speakers and Presiding Officers to come together and exchange experiences, opinions, and information, primarily on parliamentary matters. The theme of this year’s conference is “Open versus Secure Parliaments?”

Much of this year’s conference will take place on 17-19 September and will be one of the first major face-to-face gatherings of international figures since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ahead of the gathering, Sir Lindsay Hoyle said: “I’m so pleased to be able to host this important conference here in my home town of Chorley, where we can sit down face-to-face and discuss some of the issues that affect us all as Parliamentarians. We represent different countries and have different traditions, but by coming together we can speak with one voice about the challenges we face.

“We’ll be discussing how we keep our members safe, including on social media, which can often be a place for abuse and threats towards politicians. Many of us have also been affected by acts of violence and terrorism directed towards our democratic institutions, so it’s important that we gather together to discuss how we tackle these forces of evil, but ensure that the public can access their elected representatives.

“We all as politicians are accountable to our voters, so we’ll also be discussing how we can ensure the voices of the people we represent are heard in our Parliaments. I’m looking forward to a weekend of debate with my international colleagues, and together reaffirming the central role that our institutions play in the democratic lives of our countries.”

But what exactly is on the menu?

This is what will be tempting the tastebuds of some of the most important politicians in the world when they visit Lancashire…

FRIDAY

Canapés

Morecambe Bay potted shrimps

Goosnargh duck, potato crisp and fig relish

Smoked Mrs Kirkham’s spud cakes (v)

Black pudding with creamy Lancashire cheese bon bon

Dry cured bacon and pork sausage rolls, with beetroot and rhubarb

Fillet steak canapé

Wild mushroom scotch eggs, with quail

Traditional Lancashire hot pot, with Bowland lamb

Lancashire butter pie

Grilled leek, cheddar and mustard on a mini oven bottom muffin

Manchester Tart

Lancashire cheese table (Mrs Kirkham's Lancashire, Forest of Bowland Cheddar Cheese, Butlers Farmhouse Blacksticks Blue, Garstang Blue, Shorrocks Lancashire Bomb, Grandma Singletons Famously Strong Lancashire).

Includes chutney, grapes, celery and a selection of biscuits individually tailored for each cheese.

SATURDAY

Starter

Morecambe Bay shrimps and leaks on toasted crumpet

Intermediate course

Twice-baked Kirkham’s Lancashire cheese soufflé, with champagne source and green Lancashire apple salad

Main course

Sirloin of Angus beef, with butter roast potato, grilled king oyster mushroom, red wine jus, broad beans and peas

Dessert

Paul Heathcote’s bread and butter pudding, with clotted cream and apricot purée

Coffee, Chorley cakes and Rivington chocolates