The Path to Devolution
Despite many changes to the way Scottish business was conducted in Westminster, there were still demands for more substantial self-government. Proposals included restoration of a fully sovereign parliament, as existed before 1707, and federal arrangements for the various parts of the UK. The popularity and political significance of these campaigns ebbed and flowed during the twentieth century, but grew substantially in the late 1960s.
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Peter Thomson with 'Yes' sandwich board 1979
© The Scotsman Publications Ltd.
Licensor www.scran.ac.uk
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In 1973, the Royal Commission on the Constitution recommended a form of legislative devolution for Scotland (and a less substantial degree of devolution for Wales). In the mid-1970s, the pressure for reform of the existing system grew further, and the Labour government of the time put forward legislation to establish a Scottish Assembly. There was a long and difficult parliamentary struggle over the proposal. Nevertheless, the Scotland Act 1978 became law on 31 July 1978. The Act required that 40% of the Scottish electorate (not just of those who voted) had to support the Act for it to come into force. In the referendum of 1 March 1979, the devolution scheme was supported by 52% of those voting but, as this amounted to only 33% of the electorate, the scheme could not be realised. This led to a vote of no confidence in the government and its defeat in the subsequent general election of May 1979. The Act was repealed in June 1979. |
Developments during the 1979-1997 Conservative government
The new Conservative government of 1979 did not support devolution in the form proposed in the 1978 Act, as they feared it would lead to the break-up of the United Kingdom. Instead, they brought in various measures to further devolve the administrative government of Scotland and allow special treatment of Scottish business in Parliament. However, others who were not satisfied with these measures continued their campaigns for greater self-government, either for devolution in some form or for full independence.
The Scottish Constitutional Convention
Following the 1987 general election, many of these strands of opinion united behind what eventually became the Scottish Constitutional Convention (SCC). The SCC was composed of representatives from several of the political parties in Scotland (not the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party nor the Scottish National Party), local authorities, the churches and many voluntary and other public bodies and organisations. Following its first meeting in March 1989, it published a declaration of policy, as a Claim of Right for Scotland. The key demand was for a Scottish Assembly or Parliament with law-making powers.
Over the next few years, the SCC produced a number of reports based on its detailed inquiries and consultations, culminating in its final report in November 1995, Scotland's Parliament, Scotland's Right. This report contained proposals for the implementation of a devolution scheme, rather than arguments for and against devolution, as its preface made clear:
The longing of the people of Scotland for their own Parliament rings clear and true every time opinion is sounded. We believe that the momentum for change is now too great to deny; and that a Scottish Parliament will soon be meeting for the first time in nearly three centuries.
Referendum results
| The SCC report formed the basis of the devolution policy presented in the Labour Party manifesto for the May 1997 general election. The report was also supported by the Liberal Democrat Party. After election, the Labour government arranged for a referendum on its proposals, which were set out in a White Paper in July 1997, Scotland's Parliament. Unlike 1979, this referendum was held before the relevant devolution bill was introduced into Parliament, not after it had been enacted. This was to ensure that devolution was the expressed will of the people of Scotland and not simply a government policy. The referendum, held on 11 September 1997, produced clear majorities for the two propositions: that a Scottish Parliament should be created, and that it should have certain tax-varying powers. The results of the votes on these two questions are set out below: |
The late Donald Dewar MSP with the
White Paper 'Scotland's Parliament'
© David Black.
Licensor www.scran.ac.uk |
There should be a Scottish Parliament
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Votes |
% of turnout |
% of electorate |
Agree |
1,775,054 |
74.3% |
44.87% |
Disagree |
614,400 |
25.7% |
15.53% |
Turnout |
2,389,445 |
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60.40% |
A Scottish Parliament should have tax-varying powers
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Votes |
% of turnout |
% of electorate |
Agree |
1,512,889 |
63.5% |
38.24% |
Disagree |
870,263 |
36.5% |
22.00% |
Turnout |
2,383,152 |
|
60.24% |
Posters In Support
Of The Referendum
© Colin McPherson.
Licensor www.scran.ac.uk |
Following this result, the Scotland Bill was introduced in Parliament in January 1998 and became law as the Scotland Act in November that year. The Secretary of State for Scotland had appointed a Consultative Steering Group (CSG) in November 1997. Its membership was representative of the major political parties in Scotland and of other civic groups and interests. Its remit was to develop proposals for the practical operation of the new Parliament. After a period of detailed examination and consultation, the CSG produced a report in January 1999, Shaping Scotland's Parliament, which was used as the blueprint for the Parliament's initial set of Standing Orders (the rules governing how the Scottish Parliament operates). |
The Scottish Parliament re-established
The first elections for the Scottish Parliament were held on 6 May 1999, and the first meeting of the Scottish Parliament took place on 12 May 1999. On 1 July 1999, the Scottish Parliament was officially opened by Her Majesty The Queen and received its full legislative powers.
Banner, 'YES YES TO A SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT'
© The City of Edinburgh Council.
Licensor www.scran.ac.uk
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