Moray Labour marks 100th anniversary of Ramsay MacDonald becoming Prime Minister
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Labour activists from across Moray assembled in Lossiemouth this weekend to mark the centenary of Ramsay MacDonald becoming the party's first Prime Minister.
Ramsay was born in Lossiemouth in 1866, and despite a political career that took him to 10 Downing Street, always regarded the seaside town as his home.
The assembled gathering at Prospect Terrace was addressed by both Sandy Keith, chairman of the Moray Labour Party, and Iona Kielhorn, Ramsay's granddaughter who still lives in the house he built in Lossiemouth.
Councillor Keith said: "Ramsay was a Lossie loon and the only Moravian to be Prime Minister.
"Coming from poverty almost unimaginable today, he rose to lead this country which, at the time, governed a quarter of the globe, and was toiling from the efforts of the first world war."
The most significant achievement of Ramsay's first government was the Wheatley Housing Act, to begin building 500,000 council houses for low paid workers.
Cllr Keith said: "I was brought up in a council house – and I’m proud of it. Many here today were also brought up in council houses – thanks to a vision given birth 100 years ago by Ramsay MacDonald’s government in 1924.
"We all believe in transformational change of society, and that is why we are Labour Party members.
"We will be doing all we can to elect a Labour Government whenever the Tories decide to call an election this year."
Ramsay was first elected to parliament in 1906, as one of just 29 Labour MPs.
He led the Labour Party into the general election in December 1923, depriving the Conservative government of their majority.
Ramsay first entered Downing Street on January 22, 1924.
He went on to become Prime Minister twice more during the 1920s and early 30s.
Also present at this weekend's gathering in Lossiemouth was Kevin Maguire, associate editor at the Daily Mirror.
