Editing Scottish Parliament (section)

== <span class="anchor" id="History of the Scottish Parliament">History</span> ==
{{main|History of Scottish devolution}}
===Original Parliament of Scotland===
Before the [[Treaty of Union 1707]] united the [[Kingdom of Scotland]] and the [[Kingdom of England]] into a new state called "[[Kingdom of Great Britain|Great Britain]]", Scotland had an [[independence|independent]] parliament known as the [[Parliament of Scotland]]. Initial Scottish proposals in the negotiation over the Union suggested a devolved Parliament be retained in Scotland, but this was not accepted by the [[Kingdom of England|English]] negotiators.<ref>{{Cite news |year=1997 |title=The Last Parliament of Scotland 1703–1707 |publisher=BBC |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/politics97/devolution/scotland/briefing/1707.shtml#last |access-date=15 October 2006 |archive-date=8 January 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060108170613/http://www.bbc.co.uk/politics97/devolution/scotland/briefing/1707.shtml#last |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Treaty of Union===

For the next 290 years, Scotland was governed by the [[Parliament of Great Britain]] and the subsequent [[Parliament of the United Kingdom]], both seated at Westminster, and the lack of a Parliament of Scotland remained an important element in [[Scottish national identity]].<ref name="Devolution">{{Cite news |title=The Devolution Debate (1997) – This Century |publisher=BBC |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/politics97/devolution/scotland/briefing/c20scot.shtml |access-date=13 October 2006 |archive-date=17 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121117024940/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/politics97/devolution/scotland/briefing/c20scot.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> Suggestions for a 'devolved' Parliament were made before 1914, but were shelved due to the outbreak of the [[First World War]].<ref name="Devolution" /> A sharp rise in nationalism in Scotland during the late 1960s fuelled demands for some form of [[devolution|home rule]] or complete [[Scottish independence|independence]], and in 1969 prompted the incumbent [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] government of [[Harold Wilson]] to set up the [[Kilbrandon Commission]] to consider the [[British constitution]].<ref name="Devolution" /> One of the principal objectives of the commission was to examine ways of enabling more self-government for Scotland, within the unitary state of the United Kingdom.<ref name="Devolution" /> Kilbrandon published his report in 1973 recommending the establishment of a directly elected [[Scottish Assembly]] to legislate for the majority of domestic Scottish affairs.<ref>{{cite news |date=1 January 2005 |title=Papers reveal devolution warnings |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4137765.stm |access-date=24 November 2006 |archive-date=28 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128203232/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4137765.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

===1979 devolution referendum===

During this time, the discovery of [[North Sea oil|oil]] in the [[North Sea]] and the following "[[It's Scotland's oil]]" campaign of the [[Scottish National Party]] (SNP) resulted in rising support for Scottish independence, as well as the SNP. The party argued that the revenues from the oil were not benefitting Scotland as much as they should.<ref name="Devolution" /> The combined effect of these events led to [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] Wilson committing his government to some form of devolved legislature in 1974.<ref name="Devolution" /> Under the terms of the [[Scotland Act 1978]], an elected assembly would be set up in Edinburgh if the public approved it in a [[1979 Scottish devolution referendum|referendum be held on 1 March 1979]].<ref name = "1979 referendum"/> A narrow majority of 51.6% to 48.4% voted in favour of a Scottish Assembly, but the Act also required that at least 40% of the total electorate vote in favour of the proposal. As the turnout was only 63.6%, the vote in favour represented only 32.9% of the eligible voting population, and the Assembly was not established.<ref name = "1979 referendum">{{Cite news |year=1997 |title=The 1979 Referendums |publisher=The Holyrood Inquiry |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/politics97/devolution/scotland/briefing/79referendums.shtml |access-date=21 August 2006 |archive-date=11 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090511072817/http://www.bbc.co.uk/politics97/devolution/scotland/briefing/79referendums.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>

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Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, demand for a Scottish Parliament grew, in part because the [[government of the United Kingdom]] was controlled by the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]], while Scotland itself elected relatively few Conservative MPs.<ref name="Devolution" /> In the aftermath of the 1979 referendum defeat, the [[Campaign for a Scottish Assembly]] was initiated as a [[pressure group]], leading to the 1989 [[Scottish Constitutional Convention]] with various organisations such as [[Religion in Scotland|Scottish churches]], [[List of political parties in Scotland|political parties]] and representatives of industry taking part. Publishing its blueprint for devolution in 1995, the Convention provided much of the basis for the structure of the Parliament.<ref>{{cite web |last=Peter Fraser |date=15 October 2004 |title=Events Prior to 1 May 1997 |url=http://scottish.parliament.uk/vli/holyrood/inquiry/sp205-02.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041024190756/http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/vli/holyrood/inquiry/sp205-02.htm |archive-date=24 October 2004 |access-date=17 November 2006 |publisher=The Holyrood Inquiry}}</ref>

===1997 devolution referendum===

Devolution continued to form part of the platform of the Labour Party which won power under [[Tony Blair]] in May 1997.<ref name="Devolution" /> In September 1997, the [[1997 Scottish devolution referendum|Scottish devolution referendum]] was put to the Scottish electorate and secured a majority in favour of the reestablishment of the Scottish Parliament, with tax-varying powers, in Edinburgh.<ref>{{cite web |title=Past Referendums – Scotland 1997 |url=http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/referendums/Scotland1997.cfm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061207062754/http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/referendums/Scotland1997.cfm |archive-date=7 December 2006 |access-date=17 November 2006 |publisher=The Electoral Commission}}</ref> 

===Opening of the new Scottish Parliament===
{{main|Scottish Parliament Building}}
[[File:ScottishParliamentFront.JPG|thumb|The public entrance of the Scottish Parliament building, opened in October 2004.]]

An election was held on 6 May 1999, and on 1 July of that year power was transferred from Westminster to the new reconvened Parliament.<ref>{{cite web |last=Morgan |first=Bryn |date=8 October 1999 |title=House of Commons Research Paper – Scottish Parliament Elections: 6 May 1999 |url=http://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/RP99-50 |access-date=2 July 2016 |publisher=House of Commons Library |archive-date=24 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724154342/http://researchbriefings.parliament.uk/ResearchBriefing/Summary/RP99-50 |url-status=live }}</ref> While the permanent building at Holyrood was being constructed, a temporary home for the Parliament was found in Edinburgh.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sengupta |first=Kim |date=21 March 1998 |title=Parliament kept out in double blow for Glasgow |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/parliament-kept-out-in-double-blow-for-glasgow-1151377.html |access-date=4 March 2017 |archive-date=4 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170304195833/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/parliament-kept-out-in-double-blow-for-glasgow-1151377.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[General Assembly Hall of the Church of Scotland|General Assembly Hall]] of the [[Church of Scotland]] on the [[Royal Mile]] was chosen to host the Parliament.<ref>{{cite news |date=1 July 1999 |title=Kirk's home hosts moment of history |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1999/06/99/scottish_parliament_opening/378263.stm |access-date=14 November 2006 |archive-date=22 July 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040722033202/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/special_report/1999/06/99/scottish_parliament_opening/378263.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> Official photographs and television interviews were held in the courtyard adjoining the Assembly Hall, which is part of the [[New College, Edinburgh|School of Divinity]] of the [[University of Edinburgh]]. This building was vacated twice to allow for the meeting of the [[General Assembly of the Church of Scotland|Church's General Assembly]]. In May 2000, the Parliament was temporarily relocated to the former [[Strathclyde Regional Council]] debating chamber at [[Nye Bevan House|Strathclyde House]] in Glasgow,<ref>{{Cite news |date=13 January 2000 |title=Glasgow's miles better for parliament |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/601940.stm |access-date=4 March 2017}}</ref> and to the [[University of Aberdeen]] in May 2002.<ref>{{cite news |last=Urquhart |first=Frank |date=12 September 2001 |title=Aberdeen first city outside central belt to host parliament |work=The Scotsman |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/aberdeen-first-city-outside-central-belt-to-host-parliament-1-575634 |url-status=dead |access-date=4 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231051547/http://www.scotsman.com/news/aberdeen-first-city-outside-central-belt-to-host-parliament-1-575634 |archive-date=31 December 2017}}</ref>

Since September 2004, the official home of the Scottish Parliament has been a new [[Scottish Parliament Building]], in the Holyrood area of Edinburgh. The Scottish Parliament building was designed by Spanish architect [[Enric Miralles]] in partnership with local Edinburgh Architecture firm [[RMJM]] which was led by Design Principal [[Tony Kettle]]. Some of the principal features of the complex include leaf-shaped buildings, a grass-roofed branch merging into adjacent parkland and [[gabion]] walls formed from the stones of previous buildings. Throughout the building there are many repeated motifs, such as shapes based on [[Henry Raeburn|Raeburn's]] [[Skating Minister]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Charles Jencks |date=January 2005 |title=Identity parade: Miralles and the Scottish parliament: On the architectural territories of the EMBT/RMJM parliament building |url=http://www.architecturetoday.co.uk/Articles/view.php?id=23084 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009045338/http://www.architecturetoday.co.uk/Articles/view.php?id=23084 |archive-date=9 October 2007 |access-date=7 January 2007 |publisher=Architecture Today no.154 p.32–44}}</ref> [[Crow-stepped gable]]s and the upturned boat skylights of the Garden Lobby, complete the unique<ref>{{cite news |title=Gallery – The Scottish Parliament at Holyrood |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=http://politics.guardian.co.uk/gall/0,,1299023,00.html |access-date=25 October 2006 |archive-date=21 December 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061221194356/http://politics.guardian.co.uk/gall/0,,1299023,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> architecture. [[Queen Elizabeth II]] opened the new building on 9 October 2004.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/events/holyroodOpening/index.htm |title=Opening of Holyrood |publisher=Scottish Parliament |access-date=29 October 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060504024309/http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/nmCentre/events/holyroodOpening/index.htm |archive-date=4 May 2006}}</ref>

In 2024, the Scottish Parliament celebrated its 25th anniversary.<ref name="BBCNews">{{cite web | last=Geddes | first=Jonathan | title=King speaks at Holyrood for Scottish Parliament's 25th anniversary | website=BBC News | date=2024-09-28 | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce81zlj4y2go | access-date=2024-10-01}}</ref><ref name="Herald2024">{{cite web | last=Carmichael | first=Josh | title=King and Queen to mark Scottish Parliament's 25th anniversary | website=The Herald | date=2024-09-28 | url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/24616202.king-charles-mark-scottish-parliaments-25th-anniversary/ | access-date=2024-10-01}}</ref>