Referendum or popular consultation
Scottish devolution referendum, 1997
Voters approved a Scottish Parliament (74.3%) and tax-varying powers (63.5%), leading to the Scotland Act 1998.
What happened
Unlike 1979, the 1997 referendum came before the legislation, and a simple majority was enough.[1] Voters answered two questions: 74.3% of those voting supported a Scottish Parliament and 63.5% supported giving it tax-varying powers.[2]
The Yes vote on the first question equalled 44.7% of the electorate, and every region voted in favour.[3] Published turnout figures differ slightly by source.[4] The Scotland Bill followed in December 1997 and became law in November 1998.[5]
Sources for this page
Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.
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1.
Claim: The 1997 referendum was held before the devolution bill was introduced, and a simple majority was required.
- Scottish Parliament, The path to devolution (Scottish Parliament) link, Referendum results, para. 2. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
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2.
Claim: In the referendum of 11 September 1997, 74.3% of those voting backed a Scottish Parliament and 63.5% backed tax-varying powers.
- Scottish Parliament, The path to devolution (Scottish Parliament) link, Referendum results, para. 3. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
- Pattie, Charles; Denver, David; Mitchell, James and Bochel, Hugh, The 1997 Scottish Referendum: An Analysis of the Results, Scottish Affairs (Winter 1998) link, PDF p. 11, Table 4. Source record
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3.
Claim: In 1997 the Yes vote for a parliament equalled 44.7% of the electorate, clearing the 40% yardstick used in 1979, and every region voted in favour.
- Pattie, Charles; Denver, David; Mitchell, James and Bochel, Hugh, The 1997 Scottish Referendum: An Analysis of the Results, Scottish Affairs (Winter 1998) link, PDF pp. 10–11. Source record
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4.
Claim: Published turnout figures for 1997 differ slightly: the Scottish Parliament gives 60.1% on the first question, while Pattie and colleagues give a national turnout of 60.4%.
- Scottish Parliament, The path to devolution (Scottish Parliament) link, Referendum results, para. 3. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
- Pattie, Charles; Denver, David; Mitchell, James and Bochel, Hugh, The 1997 Scottish Referendum: An Analysis of the Results, Scottish Affairs (Winter 1998) link, PDF p. 4. Source record
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5.
Claim: The Scotland Bill was introduced in December 1997 and became the Scotland Act in November 1998.
- Scottish Parliament, The path to devolution (Scottish Parliament) link, Referendum results, para. 4. Government perspective or primary official source Source record