The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1990-1997

1996Prime Minister (1990-1997)

Mr Major’s Comments on Dunblane Tragedy – 15 March 1996

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Below is the text of Mr Major’s comments made on the Dunblane Tragedy during a visit to the town on 15th March 1996.

QUESTION:

[Mr Major was asked what was the purpose of his visit]

PRIME MINISTER:

I wanted to come and physically see for myself, and in what I hope is going to be a very unobtrusive visit, I’d like to see what has happened, form some of my own judgements and perhaps physically show some support for the people who have had such a terrible time over the last few days.

QUESTION:

[Mr Major was asked what he expected to find during his visit to Dunblane]

PRIME MINISTER:

Well, I think it must be a community that cannot possibly yet begin to imagine quite what has happened to them.

It’s bound to take a time to put the community together again. From all I’ve heard of it, people have handled the matter with immense courage so far. But that courage will need to be sustained. I think the huge wave of emotional support that has come from all over the United Kingdom, I don’t think I have ever seen anything quite like it and I can remember nothing quite like it , and I hope that in some fashion that that will be of some support to the people of Dunblane.