Tea, scones and smiles at meeting

By David Porter
Westminster correspondent, BBC Scotland

Stormont is big, bold and imposing.

Polite chatter between the leaders was the order of the day

Standing on a hill outside East Belfast, it's built in the Greek style, fronted in Portland stone and is designed to impress - it does just that.

For decades it's been synonymous with power in Northern Ireland. It's now the home of the newly re-constituted Northern Ireland Assembly and the latest bit of the devolution puzzle to fall into place.

Over the years it's seen more than its fair share of political drama. Not many debating chambers in the UK have had to repel an armed raider, but Stormont did that less than a year ago.

More recently, it also witnessed former sworn political enemies Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness agreeing to work together. If these two can get on then so can anyone, goes the argument.

It was perhaps fitting then that Northern Ireland's new political double act were joint hosts to the British Irish Council, the body made up of the British and Irish governments and representatives of the devolved administrations and crown dependencies.

It also saw Gordon Brown and Alex Salmond meet face to face for the first time since they assumed their new roles.

Stormont is used to big meetings, so everything was choreographed.

The political ghosts that haunt Stormont know throwing leaders together who are poles apart politically will usually cause sparks to fly

The leaders and their accompanying delegations arrived at the appointed time at the building's west door, where they posed for photographs and smiled.

Those of us herded in the press pen played our part and shouted our questions. Everyone was on their best behaviour.

There was a strict timetable, with the various delegations arriving at five minute intervals. Among the first to pull up in an official car was Alex Salmond.

He said nice things about Mr Brown and the UK Government and, when he arrived, the new prime minister was very polite about Mr Salmond and the Scottish Executive.

Then something very British - tea, scones and polite chatter among the leaders inside.

And then a sight you don't see everyday - and most definitely one for the political scrapbook - a new unionist prime minister sharing tea, small talk and even a quick handshake with the Nationalist first minister of Scotland.

Government co-operation has been good since the airport incident

The photographer who captured this was delighted with his day's work. Of course, Mr Brown and Mr Salmond have met many times before, but this was the first time in their new roles, so this chat and the accompanied handshake had great symbolic significance.

"We go this way'", said the prime minister. The others obediently followed, as Mr Brown then led the way for the group photograph.

Amid the grandeur of Stormont's Great Hall, the choreography was clear. After a bit of shuffling and herding by officials, Mr Brown, Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Mr McGuinness and Mrn Paisley were placed at the centre of the photo.

Scottish Executive sources denied a rumour that they threw a "hissy fit" when they thought Mr Salmond was going to be relegated to the second row of the picture. But a spokeswoman did admit that they made their feelings known.

Political appetites

In the end Mr Salmond stayed in the front row, but at the end of the line, well away, as it happens, from the prime minister.

Then it was down to the formal talks, which went on longer than expected.

Since the Glasgow Airport bomb attack, co-operation between Whitehall and Holyrood has been good.

Within hours of that incident, the first minister was invited to join a meeting of the emergency response committee, Cobra.

Rumours of a hissy fit at the group photo were denied

London and Edinburgh have each praised the sensitivities shown on this occasion and no-one had an appetite to make political capital out of it.

But there are potential flash points. The SNP-led executive wants more say over EU fishing talks and resolving financial disputes, such as the previous underspend by the last Scottish government.

The talks did not raise these contentious issues - but rest assured they will surface in the future.

Instead, the formal agenda concentrated on transport. One issue under discussion was ferry services between Northern Ireland and Scotland and reinstating the link between Ballycastle and Campbelltown.

The will is there but the stumbling block, as is so often the case, is finding the money to pay for it.

The political ghosts that haunt Stormont know throwing leaders together who are poles apart politically will usually cause sparks to fly.

But this is new political territory and everyone will be watching closely.