1997 Scottish devolution referendum

Measure creating a devolved Scottish Parliament May 2020 January 2014 1997 Scottish devolution referendum Do you agree that there should be a Scottish Parliament as proposed by the Government? Scotland 1997 Scotland 1979 1979 Scottish devolution referendum 1997 09 11 y 1,775,045 614,400 2,391,268 11,986 3,973,673 Scottish devolution referendum, 1997 Question 1.svg Results by local voting areaYes: #B6C8D9 50–60% #7D9CBB 60–70% #47729E 70–80% #28497C 80–90% Scottish devolution referendum, 1997 Do you agree that a Scottish Parliament should have tax-raising powers as proposed by the Government? Scotland 11 September 1997 1,512,889 870,263 2,391,268 19,013 3,973,673 Scottish_devolution_referendum,_1997_Question_2.svg Results by local voting areaYes: #B6C8D9 50–60% #7D9CBB 60–70% #47729E 70–80% No: #DEDEBD 50–60% Saturation of colour reflects the strength of the Yes vote in each Council area. The Scottish devolution referendum of 1997 was a pre-legislative referendum held in Scotland on 11 September 1997 over whether there was support for the creation of a Scottish Parliament with devolved powers, and whether the Parliament should have tax-varying powers. The result was "Yes–Yes": a majority voted in favour of both proposals, and the Parliament was established following an election in 1999. Turnout for the referendum was 60.4%. The referendum was a Labour Party manifesto commitment and was held in their first term in office after the 1997 general election, under the provisions of the Referendums (Scotland and Wales) Act 1997. It was the second referendum held in Scotland over the question of devolution, the first being in 1979, and is to date the only major referendum to be held in any part of the United Kingdom where voters were asked two questions in the same plebiscite. Background thumb|Logo used by the Yes Campaign A referendum was held in 1979 under a Labour government which stipulated that a Scottish Assembly would come into being if the referendum had been supported by 50% of votes cast plus a controversial rule whereby at least 40% of the electorate had to vote in favour. Although 51.6% voted in favour, this was only 32.9% of the electorate so the Assembly was not brought into being. Shortly afterwards, the predominantly anti-devolution-led Conservative Party won the 1979 general election. thumb|Logo used by the No Campaign That government put devolution to one side but it was a policy area that remained on the agenda of the Labour Party. A Campaign for a Scottish Assembly was formed afterwards to continue the campaign. They brought together a committee of "prominent Scots" who drafted the document "A Claim of Right for Scotland". The "Claim" was published in 1988 and signed by most Scottish politicians, local councils, trade unions and churches.http://www.alba.org.uk/devolution/claimofright.html The most influential document this century The Herald Paul H. Scott usurped https://web.archive.org/web/20111228030210/http://www.alba.org.uk/devolution/claimofright.html 28 December 2011 It was agreed to form a Scottish Constitutional Convention, made up of existing MPs and councillors. The Labour Party included the establishment of a Scottish Parliament in its manifesto for the 1997 general election, which they won with a landslide majority of 179.10.1093/oxfordjournals.pa.a028782 The 1997 Devolution Referendum in Scotland 1998 Mitchell J. Denver D. Pattie C. Bochel H. Parliamentary Affairs 51 2 166–181 Referendum questions The electorate was asked to vote on two sets of statements which corresponded to both proposals.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/politics97/devolution/scotland/live/index.shtml Scottish Referendum Live – The Results BBC News BBC 28 July 2016 14 April 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170414035858/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/politics97/devolution/scotland/live/index.shtml live On the first ballot paper the following appeared: Parliament has decided to consult people in Scotland on the Government's proposals for a Scottish Parliament: I agree there should be a Scottish Parliament or I do not agree there should be a Scottish Parliament (To be marked by a single (X)) On the second ballot paper the following appeared: Parliament has decided to consult people in Scotland on the Government's proposals for a Scottish Parliament to have tax varying powers: I agree that a Scottish Parliament should have tax-varying powers or I do not agree that a Scottish Parliament should have tax-varying powers (To be marked by a single (X)) Campaign Scottish Labour, the SNP, Scottish Liberal Democrats, and Scottish Greens campaigned for a "Yes" vote for both proposals whilst the Scottish Conservatives opposed both proposals. Labour MP Tam Dalyell opposed the creation of the Parliament, but accepted that it should have tax-varying powers if it were to be established.http://www.bbc.co.uk/politics97/devolution/scotland/briefing/dissent.shtml Dissent Within the Labour Party BBC News BBC 31 August 2007 23 November 2004 https://web.archive.org/web/20041123092731/http://www.bbc.co.uk/politics97/devolution/scotland/briefing/dissent.shtml live The official Yes campaign, Scotland Forward (styled "Scotland FORward"), was headed by the businessman Nigel Smith and came out of the groups that had previously formed the Scottish Constitutional Convention, along with the Scottish National Party. It was supported by the Labour, SNP, Liberal Democrat and Green parties.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/politics97/devolution/scotland/briefing/scotbrief1.shtml BBC Briefing BBC News BBC 20 June 2018 19 September 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200919032802/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/politics97/devolution/scotland/briefing/scotbrief1.shtml live The official No campaign, Think Twice, was headed by Brian Monteith, a former employee of the Conservative MP Michael Forsyth. Board members included Donald Findlay, rector of the University of St Andrews and vice-chairman of Rangers F.C., and senior Conservative peer Lord Fraser. However, it struggled to get much business support as they were wary of opposing a project that had such support from the new government which had a large majority. Campaigning in the referendum was suspended between the death and funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/politics97/devolution/scotland/news/310897.shtml Referendum Campaign Is Suspended As A Mark Of Respect BBC News BBC 17 January 2017 31 December 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20171231171229/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/politics97/devolution/scotland/news/310897.shtml live It was speculated that the Scottish referendum could have been postponed, but this would have required a recall of the UK Parliament and an amendment to the Referendums Act.https://www.thenational.scot/news/19106361.revealed-tory-attempt-stop-devolution-vote-princess-dianas-death/ Secret files reveal William Hague asked Tony Blair to suspend devolution vote Kathleen Nutt The National 21 February 2021 22 July 2021 22 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210722150750/https://www.thenational.scot/news/19106361.revealed-tory-attempt-stop-devolution-vote-princess-dianas-death/ live Opinion polling +Polling on the establishment of a Scottish ParliamentPattie Charles Denver David Mitchell James Bochel Hugh 1998 The 1997 Scottish Referendum: an Analysis of the Results https://doi.org/10.3366/scot.1998.0002 Scottish Affairs 22 8 10.3366/scot.1998.0002 0966-0356 3 August 2021 16 June 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220616074458/https://www.euppublishing.com/doi/10.3366/scot.1998.0002 live subscription 1997 Scottish Polls BBC Politics 97 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/politics97/devolution/scotland/briefing/scotpolls.shtml live 3 August 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210803135337/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/politics97/devolution/scotland/briefing/scotpolls.shtml 3 August 20211997 ICM Research / The Scotsman Scottish Opinion Poll – September 1997 http://www.icmunlimited.com/pdfs/1997_september_scotsman_scottish_opinion_poll.pdf dead https://web.archive.org/web/20160305221051/http://www.icmunlimited.com/pdfs/1997_september_scotsman_scottish_opinion_poll.pdf 5 March 2016 ICM ResearchDate(s)conductedPollsterClientSamplesizeYesNoDon'tknowLead11 Sep 1997 year1997 devolution referendum–74.3%25.7%N/A48.6%10 Sep 1997 yearICMThe Scotsman–63%25%12%38%8 Sep 1997 yearMORISTV–67%22%11%45%7 Sep 1997 yearNOPThe Sunday Times–63%21%16%42%7 Sep 1997 yearICMThe Scotsman1,01060%25%15%35%6 7 Sep 1997 yearSystem ThreeThe Herald1,03961%20%19%41%21 26 Aug 1997 yearSystem ThreeThe Herald1,03961%23%16%38%24 29 Jul 1997 yearSystem ThreeThe Herald1,02465%19%16%46%26 1 Jul 1997 yearSystem ThreeThe Herald97868%21%10%47%22 27 May 1997 yearSystem ThreeThe Herald1,02464%21%15%43% +Polling on the establishment of a Scottish Parliament with tax-varying powerDate(s)conductedPollsterClientSamplesizeYesNoDon'tknowLead11 Sep 1997 year1997 devolution referendum–63.5%36.5%N/A27.0%10 Sep 1997 yearICMThe Scotsman–48%40%12%8%8 Sep 1997 yearMORISTV–45%31%24%14%7 Sep 1997 yearNOPThe Sunday Times–51%34%15%17%7 Sep 1997 yearICMThe Scotsman1,01045%38%17%7%6 7 Sep 1997 yearSystem ThreeThe Herald1,03945%31%24%14%21 26 Aug 1997 yearSystem ThreeThe Herald1,03947%32%21%15%24 29 Jul 1997 yearSystem ThreeThe Herald1,02454%27%18%27%26 1 Jul 1997 yearSystem ThreeThe Herald97856%26%18%30%22 27 May 1997 yearSystem ThreeThe Herald1,02453%28%19%25% Results The result was "Yes-Yes": the majority voted "I agree" in favour of both proposals. Two council areas had an overall "Yes-No" result – Dumfries and Galloway and Orkney. More votes were cast for the first question than the second in all regions (except Fife), with substantially more spoilt ballots for the second question, perhaps due to voter confusion over the two papers.http://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/RP97-113 Results of Devolution Referendums 1979 & 1997 Richard Dewdney 10 November 1997 House of Commons Library Research Paper No 97/113 25 June 2017 24 February 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170224160140/http://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/RP97-113 live Question 1 thumb|Map showing results by council:Yes: #B6C8D9 50–60% Yes #7D9CBB 60–70% Yes #47729E 70-80% Yes #28497C 80-90% Yes |right|180px 1997 Scottish devolution referendum(Question 1) 1775045 2389445 614200 3973673 11986 I agree there should be a Scottish Parliament I do not agree that there should be a Scottish Parliament Question 1 Agree 1,775,045 #0d6ae8 #fff Disagree 614,400 #a07ac5 #fff By council area Council area Votes Proportion of votes Agree Disagree Agree Disagree Aberdeen City 65,035 25,580 71.8% 28.2% Aberdeenshire 61,621 34,878 63.9% 36.1% Angus 33,571 18,350 64.7% 35.3% Argyll and Bute 30,452 14,796 67.3% 32.7% Clackmannanshire 18,790 4,706 80.0% 20.0% Dumfries and Galloway 44,619 28,863 60.7% 39.3% Dundee City 49,252 15,553 76.0% 24.0% East Ayrshire 49,131 11,426 81.1% 18.9% East Dunbartonshire 40,917 17,725 69.8% 30.2% East Lothian 33,525 11,665 74.2% 25.8% East Renfrewshire 28,253 17,573 61.7% 38.3% City of Edinburgh 155,900 60,832 71.9% 28.1% Falkirk 55,642 13,953 80.0% 20.0% Fife 125,668 39,517 76.1% 23.9% Glasgow City 204,269 40,106 83.6% 16.4% Highland 72,551 27,431 72.6% 27.4% Inverclyde 31,680 8,945 78.0% 22.0% Midlothian 31,681 7,979 79.9% 20.1% Moray 24,822 12,122 67.2% 32.8% North Ayrshire 51,304 15,931 76.3% 23.7% North Lanarkshire 123,063 26,010 82.6% 17.4% Perth and Kinross 40,344 24,998 61.7% 38.3% Renfrewshire 68,711 18,213 79.0% 21.0% Scottish Borders 33,855 20,060 62.8% 37.2% South Ayrshire 40,161 19,909 66.9% 33.1% South Lanarkshire 114,908 32,762 77.8% 22.2% Stirling 29,190 13,440 68.5% 31.5% West Dunbartonshire 39,051 7,058 84.7% 15.3% West Lothian 56,923 14,614 79.6% 20.4% Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles) 9,977 2,589 79.4% 20.6% Orkney 4,749 3,541 57.3% 42.7% Shetland 5,430 3,275 62.4% 37.6% Question 2 thumb|Map showing results by council:Yes: #B6C8D9 50–60% #7D9CBB 60–70% #47729E 70-80% No: #DEDEBD 50–60% |right|180px Scottish devolution referendum, 1997(Question 2) 1512889 2383152 870263 3973673 19013 I agree that a Scottish Parliament should have tax-varying powers I do not agree that a Scottish Parliament should have tax-varying powers + Question 2 referendum results (without spoiled ballots):Agree:1,512,889 (63.5%)Disagree:870,263 (36.5%) ▲ By council area Council area Votes Proportion of votes Agree Disagree Agree Disagree Aberdeen City 54,320 35,709 60.3% 39.7% Aberdeenshire 50,295 45,929 52.3% 47.7% Angus 27,641 24,089 53.4% 46.6% Argyll and Bute 25,746 19,429 57.0% 43.0% Clackmannanshire 16,112 7,355 68.7% 31.3% Dumfries and Galloway 35,737 37,499 48.8% 51.2% Dundee City 42,304 22,280 65.5% 34.5% East Ayrshire 42,559 17,824 70.5% 29.5% East Dunbartonshire 34,576 23,914 59.1% 40.9% East Lothian 28,152 16,765 62.7% 37.3% East Renfrewshire 23,580 22,153 51.6% 48.4% City of Edinburgh 133,843 82,188 62.0% 38.0% Falkirk 48,064 21,403 69.2% 30.8% Fife 108,021 58,987 64.7% 35.3% Glasgow City 182,589 60,842 75.0% 25.0% Highland 61,359 37,525 62.1% 37.9% Inverclyde 27,194 13,277 67.2% 32.8% Midlothian 26,776 12,762 67.7% 32.3% Moray 19,326 17,344 52.7% 47.3% North Ayrshire 43,990 22,991 65.7% 34.3% North Lanarkshire 107,288 41,372 72.2% 27.8% Perth and Kinross 33,398 31,709 51.3% 48.7% Renfrewshire 55,075 31,537 63.6% 36.4% Scottish Borders 27,284 26,487 50.7% 49.3% South Ayrshire 33,679 26,217 56.2% 43.8% South Lanarkshire 99,587 47,708 67.6% 32.4% Stirling 25,044 17,487 58.9% 41.1% West Dunbartonshire 34,408 11,628 74.7% 25.3% West Lothian 47,990 23,354 67.3% 32.7% Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles) 8,557 3,947 68.4% 31.6% Orkney 3,917 4,344 47.4% 52.6% Shetland 4,478 4,198 51.6% 48.4% Votes in favour of tax-varying powers still commanded significant majority, when compared to establishing the Parliament per se. A majority voted 'I agree' in every local council, apart from in Dumfries & Gallowayhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/politics97/devolution/scotland/live/dumfriesgall.shtml Result – Dumfries and Galloway BBC News 1997 20 June 2018 15 May 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190515235724/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/politics97/devolution/scotland/live/dumfriesgall.shtml live and Orkney.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/politics97/devolution/scotland/live/orkney.shtml Result – Orkney Islands BBC News 1997 20 June 2018 15 May 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190515235145/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/politics97/devolution/scotland/live/orkney.shtml live Overall turnout by council area Council area Turnout Aberdeen City 53.7% Aberdeenshire57.0% Angus 60.2% Argyll & Bute 65.0% Clackmannanshire 66.1% Dumfries & Galloway 63.4% Dundee City 55.7% East Ayrshire 64.8% East Dunbartonshire 72.2% East Lothian 65.0% East Renfrewshire 68.2% City of Edinburgh 60.1% Falkirk 63.7% Fife 60.7% Glasgow City 51.6% Highland 60.3% Inverclyde 60.4% Midlothian 65.1% Moray 57.8% North Ayrshire 63.4% North Lanarkshire 60.8% Perth & Kinross 63.5% Renfrewshire 62.8% Scottish Borders 64.8% South Ayrshire 66.7% South Lanarkshire 63.1% Stirling 65.8% West Dunbartonshire 63.7% West Lothian 60.4% Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles) 55.8% Orkney 53.5% Shetland 51.5% Outcome In response to the majority voting for "Yes" to both proposals, the UK Parliament passed the Scotland Act 1998. This established a Scottish Parliament for the first time since the adjournment of the pre-Union Parliament of Scotland in 1707. The devolved Parliament convened for the first time in May 1999, following its first election. This was a poll that the Conservative Party had to fight despite losing their "No" Campaign and having no Westminster seats in Scotland after losing the 1997 general election.Mitchell, James et al, 1998. "The 1997 Devolution Referendum in Scotland." In Oxford University Press Journals 51, (2): 166. The Scotland Act 1998 also created the Scottish Executive, later to become known as the Scottish Government. Reaction to the result Professor Tom Devine, academic at the University of Edinburgh, dubbed the referendum result "the most significant development in Scottish political history since the Union of 1707".https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-41189455 Scottish devolution referendum: The birth of a parliament Andrew Kerr 8 September 2017 BBC News 3 December 2018 29 January 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190129022824/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-41189455 live Prime Minister Tony Blair claimed that "the era of big centralised government is over".https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-scotland-41228211 Scottish devolution vote from the archive 11 September 2017 BBC News 3 December 2018 23 November 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20171123153245/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-scotland-41228211/scottish-devolution-vote-from-the-archive live The "Yes" campaign leaders Donald Dewar (Scottish Labour) and Alex Salmond (Scottish National Party) held different views over the devolution proposal. However, they put their political differences aside immediately after the vote in celebration. Despite this, the SNP's calls for independence soon reignited with SNP leader Alex Salmond claiming that there would be an independent Scotland within his lifetime. The "No" campaign did not share this optimism and feared that this vote was a catalyst towards the break-up of the Union. When the Secretary of State for Scotland, Donald Dewar, went back to London to implement the referendum result, he found the Whitehall civil service unwilling to give up powers and doubting that matters over and above those previously handled by the Scottish Office (such as education, health, transport, police and housing) should be politically devolved. Detail was also lacking in that the Scottish Constitutional Convention had failed to address issues such as the role of The Queen or aspects of tax-varying powers. See also Referendums in the United Kingdom 1997 Welsh devolution referendum Scottish independence Scottish Parliament 1979 Scottish devolution referendum 2014 Scottish independence referendum References Category:Referendums in Scotland Scottish devolution referendum Devolution referendum Category:1990s elections in Scotland Scottish devolution referendum Category:Scottish devolution Category:Constitution of the United Kingdom Category:Autonomy referendums Scottish devolution referendum