LIKE his grandparents almost a century ago, Chancellor Gordon Brown yesterday used his home address to get married to his long-standing girlfriend, Sarah Macaulay.
A 100-strong media pack waited near his secluded home in North Queensferry as the surprise wedding took place in front of more than 30 friends and members of the couple's families.
But while some observers were making unkind remarks about the Chancellor's legendary fiscal prudence extending to the serving of supermarket champagne and a finger buffet, it appeared that Mr Brown was merely following a family tradition.
The Chancellor's brother, John, head of public relations for Glasgow City Council, said: ''Gordon mentioned this today - our grandfather and grandmother were married in their home not far from here almost 100 years ago, so there is a tradition in the family that weddings are in the home.''
He told Channel 4 there was no stag night but ''a very nice family dinner'' on Wednesday.
Mr Brown said the secrecy had helped the preparations ''in some ways'', but insisted it had not been totally a secret as a public notice had been placed at the register office in Inverkeithing nearly 15 days ago. ''Maybe some of the press were not as observant as they should have been,'' he said.
Mr and Mrs Brown left North Queensferry shortly before 4pm, heading for an undisclosed destination, thought to be Cape Cod in the US, via Edinburgh Airport.
After the ceremony, the couple said in a statement: ''We are overjoyed. It has been a wonderful day and a lovely ceremony.''
The minister for the parishes of Inverkeithing and North Queensferry, Sheila Munro, who conducted the service, also spoke of her pleasure.
Prime Minister Tony Blair and wife Cherie, due to start their holiday in Tuscany this weekend, did not attend but led the good wishes from across the political spectrum.
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