Yes campaigners cite 1979 ballot

Mar 1 2013

Pro-independence campaigners have used the anniversary of Scotland's first devolution ballot to call on people to vote Yes in next year's referendum

A referendum on establishing a Scottish assembly was held in 1979, with the majority of people voting for it. But a requirement for 40% of the total electorate to back it was not met, so the assembly did not go ahead.

The Scottish Parliament was established 20 years after that vote, following the 1997 devolution referendum.

Nationalist MSP Bruce Crawford said people in Scotland were "conned in 1979".

Speaking on the 34th anniversary of the vote, the former Scottish Government minister said: "Thank goodness the independence referendum is being organised and run in Scotland, not by Westminster.

"The referendum next year gives the people of Scotland the opportunity to be in control of our own destiny, instead of being subject to the vagaries of Westminster.

"The only way to build on the achievements of the Scottish Parliament and have the strong economy and fair society we all want, ensuring that Scotland always gets the governments we vote for, is to vote Yes in the referendum next autumn."

Meanwhile Dennis Canavan, chair of the pro-independence campaign group Yes Scotland's advisory board, said the 1979 referendum "was not made in Scotland, it was made in Westminster". As a result, it was "subject to the chicanery of Westminster politicians".

Speaking about the upcoming vote, he added: "The only sure way that the Scottish Parliament will get more powers is if the people vote Yes for independence."