CHIEF Minister Mike Torode will come face to face with Gordon Brown next week – if he can clear his diary.

The British-Irish Council will gather at Stormont, Belfast, on Monday for a hastily arranged meeting.

Northern Ireland First Minister Ian Paisley and his deputy, Martin McGuinness, will host it.

But the first the Policy Council knew about it was at 1.30pm yesterday.

‘My diary is absolutely crammed for next Monday, but if I can’t reschedule the meetings, I will ask ‘deputy chief minister’ Stuart Falla or, in his absence, one of the other ministers to attend,’ said Deputy Torode.

The council was expected to meet on Friday, but that was cancelled the Tuesday before. Deputy Torode understood that that was because Mr Brown said he was not attending, so the Rev. Paisley questioned why he should.

Jersey Chief Minister Frank Walker, Isle of Man Chief Minister Tony Brown and Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond are expected to attend. Welsh First Minister Rhodri Morgan is on the guest list but has recently had a heart operation.

Deputy Torode said it was important somebody from Guernsey was present.

‘We have to be there, in the forefront, seen to be participating, or we risk dropping out of sight.’

The meeting is expected to concentrate on road transport.

Four years ago, Deputy Torode attended a BIC meeting on the same topic, but steered conversation to air slots because of their importance to the islands.

‘If I can be there, I will be, but it’s not so easy when they throw things at such short notice.’

It will be Mr Brown’s first BIC meeting since taking over from Tony Blair as prime minister.

Mr Blair often attended summit meetings, including one in Jersey in 2002, but did not come when Guernsey hosted one in November 2004.

The council was formed as part of the 1998 Good Friday Agreement to focus on policy areas in which the UK administrations and the Irish Government could co-operate. Among the issues are drug abuse, environment, tourism, transport and minority languages.

The Rev. Paisley said the meeting was good for all.

‘There is much that we can do together across the British Isles at the present time,’ he added.