Scottish devolution referendum, 1997

11 September 1997 (1997-09-11)
Do you agree that there should be a Scottish Parliament as proposed by the Government?
Results
Choice Votes % Yes 1,775,045 74.29% No 614,400 25.71% Valid votes 2,389,445 99.92% Invalid or blank votes 11,986 0.50% Total votes 2,391,268 100.00% Registered voters/turnout 3,973,673 60.18%
Results by local voting area Yes:      50–60%      60–70%      70-80%      80-90%

Scottish devolution referendum, 1997

11 September 1997
Do you agree that a Scottish Parliament should have tax-raising powers as proposed by the Government?
Results
Choice Votes % Yes 1,512,889 63.48% No 870,263 36.52% Valid votes 2,383,152 99.66% Invalid or blank votes 19,013 0.80% Total votes 2,391,268 100.00% Registered voters/turnout 3,973,673 60.18%
Results by local voting area Yes:      50–60%      60–70%      70-80% No:      50–60%
Saturation of colour reflects the strength of the Yes vote in each Council area.

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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

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.

National and regional referendums held within the United Kingdom and its constituent countries
Northern Ireland border poll     1973 EC membership referendum     1975 Scottish devolution referendum     1979 Welsh devolution referendum     1979 Scottish devolution referendum     1997 Welsh devolution referendum     1997 Greater London Authority referendum     1998 NI Good Friday Agreement referendum     1998 NE England devolution referendum     2004 Welsh devolution referendum     2011 Alternative Vote referendum     2011 Scottish independence referendum     2014 EU membership referendum     2016     * UK-wide referendums in bold
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That government put devolution to one side but it was a policy area that remained on the agenda of the Labour Party.^[1] 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".^[2] The "Claim" was published in 1988 and signed by most Scottish politicians, local councils, trade unions and churches.^[2] 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.^[1]

Referendum questions

The electorate was asked to vote on two sets of statements which corresponded to both proposals.^[3]

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.^[4]

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.^[5]

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, QC, 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.^[5]

Campaigning in the referendum was suspended between the death and funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales.^[6] 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.^[6][7]

Opinion polling

Polling on the establishment of a Scottish Parliament^[8][9][10]

Date(s) conducted	Pollster	Client	Sample size	Yes	No	Don't know	Lead
11 Sep 1997	1997 devolution referendum		–	74.3%	25.7%	N/A	48.6%
10 Sep 1997	ICM	The Scotsman	–	63%	25%	12%	38%
8 Sep 1997	MORI	STV	–	67%	22%	11%	45%
7 Sep 1997	NOP	The Sunday Times	–	63%	21%	16%	42%
7 Sep 1997	ICM	The Scotsman	1,010	60%	25%	15%	35%
6–7 Sep 1997	System Three	The Herald	1,039	61%	20%	19%	41%
21–26 Aug 1997	System Three	The Herald	1,039	61%	23%	16%	38%
24–29 Jul 1997	System Three	The Herald	1,024	65%	19%	16%	46%
26 Jun – 1 Jul 1997	System Three	The Herald	978	68%	21%	10%	47%
22–27 May 1997	System Three	The Herald	1,024	64%	21%	15%	43%

Zdroj:https://en.wikipedia.org?pojem=1997_Scottish_devolution_referendum
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Polling on the establishment of a Scottish Parliament with tax-varying power^[8][9][10]

Date(s) conducted	Pollster	Client	Sample size	Yes	No	Don't know	Lead
11 Sep 1997	1997 devolution referendum		–	63.5%	36.5%	N/A	27.0%
10 Sep 1997	ICM	The Scotsman	–	48%	40%	12%	8%
8 Sep 1997	MORI	STV	–	45%	31%	24%	14%
7 Sep 1997	NOP	The Sunday Times	–	51%	34%	15%	17%
7 Sep 1997	ICM	The Scotsman	1,010	45%	38%	17%	7%
6–7 Sep 1997	System Three	The Herald	1,039	45%	31%	24%	14%
21–26 Aug 1997	System Three	The Herald	1,039	47%	32%	21%	15%
24–29 Jul 1997	System Three	The Herald