It may not quite have been on the scale of the mystery glamorous couple who inveigled their way into Obama's White House for a state dinner held for the Indian PM but I found myself last night at Gordon Brown's 10 Downing Street for an Eid reception. The first Muslim to ever attend Cabinet, Sadiq Khan introduced a troupe of Syrian singers who'd come by way of Birmingham before introducing ‘Scotland's most charismatic and popular politician' Mohammad Sarwar who spoke briefly. Shahid Malik also addressed the assorted throng before Brown then took to the floor and listed areas on which Britain had benefited from Muslim influence from financial services to lobbying over increased third world debt.

It was the first time I'd got close enough to witness that glimpse of the real witty, warm GB you hear about. As he circled the room after I said I'd been asked to find out what biscuits he kept there. ‘Chocolate digestive', he replied quick as a flash. Solid, dependable, wholesome; like the leader himself. ‘You know that's mumsnet don't you?' he added. ‘And I didn't even have time to get asked that question! Give everybody there my best regards'. Talking of mums Sarah Brown was also in attendance. In reply to my asking her how the boys are she replied ‘fine' and happily posed for photos.

In a week when the Swiss voted by their laborious process to ban minarets being built on the construction of mosques the contrast could not have been greater. In one country, Muslims are victimised. In the UK, the Prime Minister opens the doors of his residence to women in hijabs, pious chaps with long beards and keeps stressing ‘make yourself at home' essentially making sure all are fed and watered with halal canapes. Brown told us to have a look round the Cabinet room etc while we were there. So I did, trooping down the staircase with yellow walls where pensive Prime Ministers are pictured with eyes that follow you around the room.

When they first received the invite, many of what Khan called ‘the cream of this country's Muslim community' might have thought that days may be numbered in terms of funding opportunities for fighting violent extremism and getting invites to number 10 should the present polls be translated into general election results. Given the fighting performance of Brown yesterday at PMQs widely acknowledged by all though it's game on for the contest wherever it comes with the Muslim vote being a significant deliverer of many seats. There are many variables in electoral behaviour but this successful Eid reception should help show this segment of the electorate that as far as this facet of their identity goes, the Muslim contribution to the UK is valued by our current government (as are choccy biccies).

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