David Campbell Bannerman MEP the great great great nephew of Britain’s First official Prime Minister, Henry Campbell Bannerman, has joined Better Together activists and Murdo Fraser on the campaign trail in Perthshire.
Born in Glasgow, Henry Campbell-Bannerman served as Liberal Prime Minister between 1905 and 1908, previously the office was known as First Lord of the Treasury. He was a vocal advocate of Irish Home Rule which mirrors the current drive for greater devolution. He lived at Belmont Castle in Meigle and is buried at the parish church.
His great great great nephew, David Campbell Bannerman, is an MEP for the East of England and whose grandfather, also Henry Campbell Bannerman, was born in Perth. He joined Mid-Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser on the doorsteps of Meigle and the streets of Perth.
Commenting Murdo Fraser MSP said;
“Henry Campbell-Bannerman joins a whole list of Scots-born British Prime Ministers and this demonstrates the extraordinary contribution that we have made towards the development of the current UK.
“It was great to be joined by David on the campaign trail as every ounce of effort helps during the last week of campaigning to prevent the breakup of Great Britain.
“So far we have had a great response on both the doorsteps and in the streets of Perth where the message was clear, ‘keep Scotland part of the UK.’”
Commenting David Campbell Bannerman MEP said;
“As a descendent of a Scottish-born, British Prime Minister I felt a calling to come to Scotland and show that the rest of the UK desperately wants Scotland to remain in the Union.
“My great great great uncle was a vocal crusader for Irish Home Rule and I am convinced that he would approve of the current commitment to grant the Scottish Parliament further powers.
“In the last week of campaigning it is crucial to get our positive case for the Union out and I was delighted to do this on the doorsteps in Perth and Meigle."