Century since British Cabinet met in Inverness
The Highland Council and High Life Highland are acknowledging the centenary of the meeting of the British Cabinet which was held in Inverness Town House in 1921.
It was at 11am in the Town House Chamber on 7 September that the British Cabinet met. This was the first time that a cabinet meeting was convened outside of London.
The reason for the location of the meeting was that Prime Minister Lloyd George was on holiday at Gairloch and King George V was shooting at Moy.
Council Officer, William Bain, passed a sheet of paper round the sixteen cabinet members for their signatures. A framed copy of the signed paper is on display in the Chamber. The original is in Inverness Museum and Art Gallery. Included in the list is The Rt. Hon Winston S Churchill, who was then, the Secretary of State for Colonies.
Provost of Inverness and Area, Cllr Helen Carmichael said: “It is one hundred years this week since the British Cabinet met in Inverness and crowds gathered outside the Town House for the occasion. Due to COVID-19 we are marking the historic occasion virtually through the magnificent Am Baile collection that is curated by High Life Highland.”
Crowds gathered outside Inverness Town House on 7 September 1921. Image courtesy of the Cook Collection, Inverness Museum & Art Gallery.
UK Government Minister for Scotland Iain Stewart said: "The 1921 cabinet meeting in Inverness was a historic moment and I'm delighted the centenary is being marked in this way. I'd urge everyone to see the fascinating virtual exhibition commemorating the occasion."
Included in the Am Baile collection are photographs of the members of the cabinet inside the Town House Chamber; crowds gathered on Inverness High Street; Winston Churchill arriving at the Town House; the signatures of the Cabinet members gathered by Willian Bain; and Prime Minister, Lloyd George being greet at the Town House by the Provost.
It was not until another 87 years later that another Government Cabinet meeting was held in Inverness Town House. On this occasion, the Scottish Government Cabinet met on 5 August 2008 in the same room where Lloyd George held his Cabinet in 1921.
Jamie Gaukroger from High Life Highland’s Am Baile website said: “It was a beautiful sunny day and large crowds had gathered from the station, along the High Street and down to the river, with every available rooftop occupied by people looking to catch a glimpse of the dignitaries, which included future Prime Minister Winston Churchill.
“The Cabinet were welcomed to the City by Provost Donald MacDonald, MP for Kinross and Western Perthshire James Gardiner and George Smith Laing, the Town Clerk.”
High Life Highland’s Am Baile website is part of Highland Archive Service. Am Baile features thousands of images, maps, documents and multimedia from public and private collections and which cover all aspects of Highland history and culture. The site is available in English and Gaelic and new material is added weekly. To find out more, visit www.ambaile.org.uk
Photographs of the Cabinet meeting in 1921 can be viewed at www.ambaile.org.uk by adding ‘British Cabinet Meeting’ to the search.
Notes to editors:
The 1921 Inverness meeting was the first time Cabinet has met outside London. Cabinet meetings in different parts of the UK have increased considerably since 2008 - https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn06601/