2013 in Scotland

none January 2016 July 2026 2013 Events from the year 2013 in Scotland. Incumbents Politics of Scotland Order of precedence in Scotland First Minister and Keeper of the Great Seal – Alex Salmond Secretary of State for Scotland – Michael Moore until 7 October; then Alistair Carmichael Law officers Lord Advocate – Frank Mulholland Solicitor General for Scotland – Lesley Thomson Advocate General for Scotland – Lord Wallace of Tankerness Judiciary Lord President of the Court of Session and Lord Justice General – Lord Gill Lord Justice Clerk – Lord Carloway Chairman of the Scottish Land Court – Lord McGhie Events January 15 January – Former Celtic FC manager Gordon Strachan is confirmed as the new manager of the Scotland national football team.Gordon Strachan confirmed as Scotland coach bbc.co.uk, 15 January 2013 19 January – Four people die in an avalanche at Glencoe.Glencoe avalanche: Four dead, say police bbc.co.uk, 19 January 2013 February 7 February – Plans announced for a second Gaelic school in Glasgow to meet growing demand.Glasgow's second Gaelic school to open in Pollokshields area bbc.co.uk, 7 February 2013 22 February – Cardinal Keith O'Brien, leader of the Catholic Church in Scotland, says he believes priests should be able to marry if they wish to do so.Cardinal Keith O'Brien: 'Allow priests to marry' www.bbc.co.uk, 22 February 2013 25 February – Cardinal Keith O'Brien steps down as leader of the Catholic Church in Scotland, after being accused of inappropriate sexual behaviour towards priests dating back to the 1980s.Cardinal Keith O'Brien resigns as Archbishop www.bbc.co.uk, 25 February 2013 27 February Archbishop of Glasgow Philip Tartaglia is appointed apostolic administrator of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh following the resignation of Cardinal Keith O'Brien.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-21605525 BBC News Pope appoints temporary replacement to Cardinal Keith O'Brien BBC 27 February 2013 3 March 2013 Dumfries and Galloway councillors approve plans for the Star of Caledonia public artwork intended to mark the Scotland-England border at Gretna.Star of Caledonia: Scotland-England landmark plan approved bbc.co.uk, 27 February 2013 March 15 March McCluskey Report recommends legal press regulation in Scotland.McCluskey Report recommends legal press regulation in Scotland www.bbc.co.uk, 15 March 2013 Cockenzie coal-fired power plant closes.Cockenzie coal-fired power plant closes www.bbc.co.uk, 15 March 2013 20 March – Peterhead is one of two preferred bidders in a £1,000,000,000 competition to encourage the development of carbon capture and storage technology.Carbon capture: Peterhead and Drax preferred bidders in £1bn contest www.bbc.co.uk, accessed 20 March 2013 21 March – The date of the Scottish independence referendum is officially announced as Thursday, 18 September 2014.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-21828424 BBC News Scottish independence: Referendum to be held on 18 September, 2014 BBC 21 March 2013 21 March 2013 22 March – Snow and gales blast the West coast of Scotland, plunging about 20,000 homes into darkness.Scotland snow: Blackout continues in Arran and Kintyre for 1,650 homes www.bbc.co.uk, 26 March 2013 April 1 April – Police Scotland, a single national police force created by the amalgamation of Scotland's eight police forces into one division, comes into effect.Local policing 'safe' under merger www.bbc.co.uk, 1 April 2013 Likewise united are the eight Fire & Rescue services into the new Scottish Fire and Rescue Service. 8 April: Around 300 people gather for an impromptu street party in Glasgow upon hearing the news of the death of former Conservative Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher.https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/margaret-thatcher-dead-video-cheering-1818888 Daily Mirror Margaret Thatcher dead: Street parties held across the UK to mark passing of PM Daily Mirror 9 April 2013 9 April 2013 Bill Walker MSP expelled from SNP for allegedly not declaring allegations cited in his uncontested divorce proceedings during the MSP vetting process.https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/abuse-claim-msp-bill-walker-told-to-quit-holyrood-after-being-axed-by-snp-1-2223689 Abuse claim MSP Bill Walker told to quit Holyrood after being axed by SNP Scott McNab The Scotsman 9 April 2012 21 January 2018 Later in the year, he is convicted of multiple charges of domestic violence. 15 April – The Scottish Premier League fails to achieve the 11–1 majority required to agree a new 12-12-18 model for Scottish football after Ross County and St Mirren FC vote against the proposal.SPL fails to vote through 12-12-18 reconstruction plan www.bbc.co.uk, 15 April 2013 29 April – The tobacco display ban in large shops comes into force.Tobacco display ban in large shops comes into force www.bbc.co.uk, 29 April 2013 May 14 May – Launch of Business for Scotland, a pro-independence network of business people campaigning for a "Yes" vote in the 2014 independence referendum.Business for Scotland independence group launches www.scotsman.com, 14 May 2013Scottish referendum: Business leaders join new pro-independence group www.bbc.co.uk, 14 May 2013 16 May – UKIP leader Nigel Farage is heckled by angry protesters during a campaign visit to Edinburgh.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-22559526 BBC News Farage swarmed by angry protesters in Edinburgh BBC 16 May 2013 17 May 2013 20 May – The Church of Scotland's ruling General Assembly votes to allow actively gay men and women to become ministers.Church of Scotland General Assembly votes to allow gay ministers www.bbc.co.uk, 20 May 2013 24 May – Yes Scotland announces that a total of 372,103 people have signed the Yes Declaration with sixteen months to go until the referendum on Scottish independence.Yes Scotland hail 372,000 Independence Declaration signatures www.heraldscotland.com, 24 May 2013 June 19 June – Hearts FC placed into administration and will start next season in the top flight with a 15-point deduction.Hearts placed into administration and deducted 15 points www.bbc.co.uk, accessed 19 June 2013 20 June – Aberdeen Donside by-election, held to elect a successor for Brian Adam, who died in April, is won by Mark McDonald of the Scottish National Party.SNP's Mark McDonald wins Aberdeen Donside by-election www.bbc.co.uk, accessed 21 June 2013 26 June – The new road bridge across the Firth of Forth is officially named the Queensferry Crossing. 27 June – The bill to give sixteen and seventeen-year-olds the right to vote in the Scottish independence referendum is passed by MSPs.Scottish independence: Referendum voting age bill approved by MSPs www.bbc.co.uk, accessed 27 June 2013 28 June – The Scottish Premier League and the Scottish Football League agree to merge to form the Scottish Professional Football League.The new Scottish Professional Football League survives hitch www.bbc.co.uk, accessed 28 June 2013 July 7 July – Andy Murray wins the Men's Singles in tennis at Wimbledon 2013 defeating Novak Djokovic of Serbia in straight sets. Murray is the first British man to win the title since Fred Perry in 1936, and the first Scotsman to win since Harold Mahony in 1896.Newbery Piers https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/tennis/23217393 BBC Sport Andy Murray beats Novak Djokovic to win Wimbledon BBC 7 July 2013 8 July 2013 August 22 August – Yes Scotland is forced to close their computer systems after being hacked by "forces unknown". Police Scotland’s Digital Forensic Unit is investigating.Yes Scotland close computer systems after hacking www.scotsman.com, accessed 22 August 2013 23 August – A Super Puma L2 helicopter crashes near Sumburgh Airport in the Shetland Islands, resulting in four fatalities. Operation of the helicopter model is globally suspended.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-23822420 BBC News Shetland helicopter crash: Four dead named BBC 24 August 2013 25 August 2013 September 20 September – Former Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) Bill Walker sentenced to 12 months in prison for domestic violence.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-24173669 BBC News Bill Walker jailed for 12 months for domestic abuse 20 September 2013 27 September – UK Prime Minister David Cameron rejects an invitation for a head-to-head televised debate on Scottish independence with Scottish First Minister, Alex Salmond.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-24297286 BBC News Scottish independence: David Cameron will not have TV debate with Alex Salmond BBC 27 September 2013 27 September 2013 October 8 October – The Scottish Government announces that the loss-making Prestwick Airport in Glasgow is to be taken into public ownership.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-24446591 BBC News Glasgow Prestwick Airport to be taken into public ownership BBC 8 October 2013 12 October 2013 23 October – Ineos announces that the petrochemical plant at Grangemouth is to close with the loss of about 800 jobs.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-24631342 BBC News Grangemouth dispute: Ineos says petrochemical plant will close BBC 23 October 2013 23 October 2013 November 26 November – First Minister Alex Salmond launches the Scottish Government's White Paper setting out its vision for an independent Scotland.Black Andrew https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-25088251 BBC News Scottish independence: Referendum White Paper unveiled BBC 26 November 2013 27 November 2013 29 November – A Glasgow police helicopter crashes into The Clutha Vaults pub, causing eight confirmed deaths and thirty-two injuries.Helicopter crashes into Glasgow pub https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-25163045 29 November 2013 BBC 29 November 2013 December 15 December – Andy Murray wins BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2013.Andy Murray wins BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2013 bbc.co.uk, 15 December 2013 Deaths 3 January – Jimmy Halliday, 85, leader of the Scottish National Party from 1956 to 1960,https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-20905955 Jimmy Halliday: Former SNP leader dies aged 85 3 January 2013 3 January 2013 BBC News (born 1927) 26 January – Lesley Fitz-Simons, actress (born 1961) 8 February – Ian Lister, footballer (born 1948) 18 February – Elspet Gray, Scottish actress (born 1929) 23 February – Bruce Millan, 85, former Scottish Secretary and European CommissionerFormer Scottish Secretary Bruce Millan dies aged 85 www.bbc.co.uk, 23 February 2013 (born 1927) 31 March – Helena Carroll, Scottish-American actress (born 1928) 25 March – Brian Adam, politician and biochemist (born 1948)Obituary: Brian Adam MSP, politician and biochemist https://www.scotsman.com/news/obituaries/obituary-brian-adam-msp-politician-and-biochemist-2469339 www.scotsman.com 25 April 2022 en 15 May – Billy Raymond, Scottish-Australian television host (born 1938) 31 May – Frederic Lindsay, writer of crime fiction (born 1933) 9 June – Iain Banks, author (born 1954)https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22835047 Iain Banks dies of cancer aged 59 9 June 2013 9 June 2013 BBC News 22 June – Peter Fraser, Baron Fraser of Carmyllie, Conservative MP (1979–87) for Angus (South then East) and advocate (born 1945)https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-23020567 Former Tory MP Lord Fraser dies 23 June 2013 9 June 2013 BBC News 12 August – David McLetchie Leader of Scottish Conservatives 1998–2005 and MSP 1999–2012 (born 1952)https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-23664210 Former Scottish Conservative leader David McLetchie dies 12 August 2013 12 August 2013 BBC News 16 August – John Ryden, footballer (born 1931) 2 November – Jack Alexander of The Alexander Brothers, folk singer (born 1935) 9 November – Helen Eadie, politician (born 1947)Obituary: Helen Eadie, politician https://www.scotsman.com/news/obituaries/obituary-helen-eadie-politician-1553627 www.scotsman.com 15 December 2020 en See also 2013 in England 2013 in Northern Ireland 2013 in Wales References 30em collapsed 2013 Category:2010s in Scotland Category:Years of the 21st century in Scotland *Scotland Scotland