1999 Scottish Parliament election

1999 Scottish Parliament election was the first general election of the Scottish Parliament, with polling taking place on 6 May 1999, under the leadership of Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, and Donald Dewar. The election was a significant event in the history of Scotland, following the Scottish devolution referendum, 1997, which was supported by Labour Party (UK), Liberal Democrats, and Scottish National Party (SNP). The Scottish Parliament was established by the Scotland Act 1998, which received Royal Assent from Elizabeth II on 19 November 1998, and was also supported by Conservative Party (UK) and Scottish Green Party.

Background

The 1999 Scottish Parliament election was a landmark event in the history of Scotland, marking the return of a Scottish Parliament after nearly 300 years, with key figures such as Winston Churchill, Clement Attlee, and Harold Wilson having previously discussed the idea of Home Rule for Scotland. The election was contested by several parties, including Labour Party (UK), Scottish National Party (SNP), Conservative Party (UK), Liberal Democrats, and Scottish Green Party, with leaders such as Tony Blair, Alex Salmond, William Hague, Paddy Ashdown, and Robin Harper playing important roles. The Scotland Act 1998 set out the framework for the election, with 73 Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP)s to be elected by first-past-the-post and 56 to be elected by proportional representation, using the D'Hondt method, similar to the system used in Germany and Italy. The election was also notable for the involvement of European Union figures, such as Jacques Delors and Helmut Kohl, who had previously discussed the idea of European integration and its impact on Scotland.

Campaign

The campaign for the 1999 Scottish Parliament election was marked by debates over issues such as devolution, independence, and the economy of Scotland, with key figures such as Gordon Brown, Alistair Darling, and George Robertson playing important roles. The Labour Party (UK) campaign was led by Donald Dewar, who would go on to become the first First Minister of Scotland, with support from Tony Blair and John Prescott. The Scottish National Party (SNP) campaign was led by Alex Salmond, who would later become First Minister of Scotland, with support from Jim Sillars and Margo MacDonald. The Conservative Party (UK) campaign was led by David McLetchie, with support from William Hague and Michael Howard, while the Liberal Democrats campaign was led by Jim Wallace, with support from Paddy Ashdown and Charles Kennedy. The Scottish Green Party campaign was led by Robin Harper, with support from Jonathon Porritt and Caroline Lucas.

Results

The results of the 1999 Scottish Parliament election saw the Labour Party (UK) emerge as the largest party, with 56 seats, followed by the Scottish National Party (SNP) with 35 seats, the Conservative Party (UK) with 18 seats, and the Liberal Democrats with 17 seats. The Scottish Green Party won one seat, and there were also several independent Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP)s elected, including Dennis Canavan and Margo MacDonald. The election saw a turnout of 58.4%, with 1,790,736 votes cast, and was overseen by the Electoral Commission, with support from European Commission figures such as Neil Kinnock and Chris Patten. The results were also influenced by the Good Friday Agreement, which had been signed in 1998 by Tony Blair, Bertie Ahern, and George Mitchell, and had a significant impact on the politics of Scotland.

Aftermath

The aftermath of the 1999 Scottish Parliament election saw the formation of a Labour Party (UK)-Liberal Democrats coalition government, led by Donald Dewar as First Minister of Scotland, with support from Jim Wallace and Henry McLeish. The Scottish National Party (SNP) became the official opposition, led by Alex Salmond, with support from John Swinney and Nicola Sturgeon. The election marked the beginning of a new era in Scottish politics, with the Scottish Parliament taking on a range of powers and responsibilities, including health, education, and justice, similar to those of the National Assembly for Wales and the Northern Ireland Assembly. The election also had implications for the United Kingdom as a whole, with the Westminster Parliament retaining responsibility for matters such as defence and foreign policy, under the leadership of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.

Constituencies and Regional Seats

The 1999 Scottish Parliament election saw the creation of 73 constituencies, each electing one Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) by first-past-the-post, and 8 regional lists, each electing 7 Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP)s by proportional representation, using the D'Hondt method. The constituencies were largely based on the existing UK Parliament constituencies, but with some adjustments to reflect the new Scottish Parliament boundaries, similar to those used in Canada and Australia. The regional lists were used to elect Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP)s to represent the broader regions of Scotland, including Glasgow, Edinburgh, and the Highlands and Islands, with key figures such as Charles Kennedy and Menzies Campbell playing important roles. The election saw a range of Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP)s elected, including Cathy Jamieson, Jack McConnell, and Nicol Stephen, who would go on to play important roles in Scottish politics, with support from European Parliament figures such as David Martin and Elspeth Attwooll.