G8 Summit

2005

The G8 summit took place in the five-star Gleneagles Hotel (Perth and Kinross), the first time it was held in Scotland. The summit was an informal meeting which brought together the leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, UK and the USA, together with representatives of the European Union and other countries, to discuss global challenges. It was preceded by a series of protest events, particularly the 'Make Poverty History' march, which attracted 225,000 people to the centre of Edinburgh. The entire event brought the largest security operation ever mounted by British police. Steel security fences were built around the Scottish Parliament and Holyrood Palace in Edinburgh as well as the Gleneagles Hotel and roads were closed to the west of Auchterarder, which played host to at least 2500 journalists and 3000 police officers.

Led by British Prime Minister Tony Blair (b.1953), Scottish First Minister Jack McConnell (b.1960) was also in attendance. The outcome of the meeting, while disappointing to some, promised debt-relief and substantial additional aid for African counties.

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