1997 Scottish devolution referendum

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.

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.