​Leading charity pulls off another major coup enticing Obama to the capital

The charity that brought George Clooney and Leonardo DiCaprio to Edinburgh has gone one further – by persuading Barack Obama to come to the capital next month.

Obama will talk at a dinner in Edinburgh on 26 May arranged by the Hunter foundation and will be his first major address since his term as US president of came to an end.

Tickets for a table of 10 at the dinner are expected to go on sale for approximately £5,000.

Leading businessman and philanthropist Sir Tom Hunter runs the foundation which is also behind the hugely successful Kiltwalk.

The Hunter Foundation has previously arranged for US politicians and actors including Bill Clinton, Leonardo DiCaprio and George Clooney to come to Scotland.

Last year, Leonardo DiCaprio travelled to Edinburgh to speak at the Scottish Business Awards at the EICC.

He also visited Home, the social enterprise restaurant in Queensferry Street which gives its profits to the homeless.

Sir Tom Hunter said: "From the South Side of Chicago to the White House has been an epic, historic journey and it will be a true honour to hear that story from the man who made that journey.

"We are both truly proud and delighted to be hosting the 44th president of the United States in Scotland at this event."

He added: "We're always looking for really inspiring speakers to come along to Scotland, and really inspire and inform."

"To be able to get president Obama, we're really chuffed."