Scotland voted to establish its own parliament

On September 11, 1997, voters across Scotland went to the polls in a referendum on whether to create a devolved Scottish Parliament—and whether that parliament should hold tax-varying powers. Months earlier, Tony Blair’s new Labour government had promised the vote.

The result was emphatic. 74.3% backed establishing a parliament, and 63.5% approved giving it the power to vary income tax. Turnout was about 60%. Labour, the Liberal Democrats, and the Scottish National Party had all campaigned for “Yes”; only the Conservatives, who had just lost every Scottish seat at the general election, opposed it.

It was the first time Scotland had voted for its own legislature since the parliaments of Scotland and England merged in 1707.

The “Yes-Yes” verdict cleared the way for the Scotland Act 1998. The new Scottish Parliament was elected and convened in 1999, restoring a domestic legislature after nearly 290 years.