2007 Scottish Parliament election

2007 Scottish Parliament election
The Scottish Government · OGL v1.0 · source
Election name	2007 Scottish Parliament election
Type	parliamentary
Previous election	2003 Scottish Parliament election
Previous year	2003
Next election	2011 Scottish Parliament election
Next year	2011
Seats for election	All 129 seats to the Scottish Parliament
Majority seats	65
Election date	3 May 2007
Turnout	51.7%

2007 Scottish Parliament election. The 2007 Scottish Parliament election was held on Thursday, 3 May 2007 to elect members to the Scottish Parliament. It was the third general election since the devolved legislature was established by the Scotland Act 1998. The election resulted in the Scottish National Party (SNP) narrowly defeating the incumbent Scottish Labour Party, ending eight years of Labour-led administration under First Minister Jack McConnell.

Background

The political landscape preceding the election was shaped by the first two terms of devolution, dominated by a coalition between Scottish Labour Party and the Scottish Liberal Democrats led initially by Donald Dewar and later by Henry McLeish and Jack McConnell. The Scottish National Party, under the new leadership of Alex Salmond who returned from Westminster, positioned itself as a credible alternative government. Key issues included the future of public services in Scotland, the financial arrangements of the Barnett formula, and growing debate over a potential independence referendum. The electoral system, a form of additional member system, had previously produced coalition governments, setting expectations for further negotiations.

Campaign

The campaign was intensely competitive, marked by significant policy contrasts between the main parties. The Scottish National Party campaigned strongly on a platform of competence and a pledge to hold a referendum on Scottish independence, contrasting with Scottish Labour Party's emphasis on the United Kingdom and its record in Holyrood. The Scottish Conservative Party, led by Annabel Goldie, focused on law and order and opposition to independence, while the Scottish Liberal Democrats, under Nicol Stephen, emphasized federalism and education. Notable campaign events included televised debates among party leaders and widespread discussion of the new electronic voting and counting procedures, which later faced scrutiny. The campaign period also saw interventions from UK-wide figures like Gordon Brown and David Cameron.

Results

The election produced a historic result, with the Scottish National Party winning 47 seats in the Scottish Parliament, one more than the Scottish Labour Party which secured 46. The Scottish Conservative Party won 17 seats, and the Scottish Liberal Democrats 16. Smaller parties gained representation, with the Scottish Green Party winning 2 seats and independents such as Margo MacDonald retaining one. In the constituency vote, Scottish Labour Party won a plurality, but the Scottish National Party's strength in the regional list ballots secured its overall lead. The overall turnout was 51.7%. The result meant no single party held an outright majority in the 129-seat Holyrood chamber, creating a hung parliament.

Aftermath

Following the election, Alex Salmond was nominated as First Minister of Scotland after securing support from the Scottish Green Party in a parliamentary vote. The Scottish National Party formed a minority government, the first in the history of the devolved parliament. Key early actions included abolishing tuition fees for Scottish students, freezing council tax, and establishing a National Council of Economic Advisers. The government also published a white paper titled "Choosing Scotland's Future," outlining its proposal for an independence referendum, though it initially lacked the parliamentary numbers to pass the required bill. The election also led to a major review of the electoral process, known as the Gould Report, after significant administrative problems were encountered with the ballot papers and electronic counting.

Analysis

Political analysts viewed the outcome as a significant realignment in Scottish politics, breaking the long-standing dominance of the Scottish Labour Party and marking the rise of the Scottish National Party as a party of government. The result was attributed to factors including perceived competence, a effective campaign focusing on positive leadership under Alex Salmond, and a desire for change after two terms of Labour-led administration. The performance of the additional member system in producing a minority government, rather than a coalition, was a subject of study. The election is widely seen as a pivotal moment that intensified the constitutional debate, setting the stage for the subsequent 2014 Scottish independence referendum and altering the dynamics of politics within the United Kingdom.

Category:2007 elections in Scotland Category:Scottish Parliament elections