Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
North Sea Oil & Devolution
The discovery of North Sea oil in 1970 fuelled dreams of economic self sufficiency, and
led to increasing nationalist sentiment in Scotland. In 1979 a referendum was held on
whether to set up a directly elected Scottish Assembly. Fifty-two per cent of those who
voted said 'yes' to devolution, but the Labour prime minister decided that everyone who
didn't vote should be counted as a 'no'. By this controversial reasoning, only 33% of the
electorate had voted 'yes', so the Scottish Assembly was rejected.
From 1979 to 1997 Scotland was ruled by a Conservative government in London for
which the majority of Scots hadn't voted. Separatist feelings, always present, grew
stronger. Following the landslide victory of the Labour Party in May 1997, another refer-
endum was held on the creation of a Scottish parliament. This time the result was over-
whelmingly and unambiguously in favour. Elections to the new parliament took place on
6 May 1999 and the Scottish parliament convened for the first time on 12 May in Edin-
burgh.
Timeline
Early 6th century
A Celtic tribe, the Scots, cross from Northern Ireland and establish a kingdom called
Dalriada.
563
St Columba establishes a Christian mission on Iona. By the 8th century most of Scot-
land is converted.
780
Norsemen in longboats from Scandinavia begin to pillage the Scottish coast and is-
lands.
1296
King Edward I marches on Scotland with army of 30,000, butchering citizens and cap-
turing castles.
1298−1305
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