Scottish Constitutional Convention
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The Scottish Constitutional Convention (SCC) was an association of Scottish political parties, churches and other civic groups, that developed a framework for Scottish devolution.[1] It is credited as having paved the way for the establishment of the Scottish Parliament in 1999. [citation needed]
History
Campaign for a Scottish Assembly
The Convention has its roots in the Campaign for a Scottish Assembly (CSA), which was formed in the aftermath of the
The CSA kept up the pressure for devolution in the early years of the Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher, which was totally opposed to any form of Home Rule. Eventually, the CSA came to the stance that the cause of Scottish devolution would be best served by a convention with more democratic legitimacy invested in it.[5]
The CSA organised the committee, chaired by
Scottish Constitutional Convention
The Scottish Constitutional Convention was then established in 1989 after prominent Scottish individuals signed the Claim of Right, and superseded the role of the CSA.
The first meeting was held in the
Initially, the Scottish National Party (SNP) participated, but the then party leader Gordon Wilson, along with Jim Sillars, decided to withdraw the SNP from participation owing to the convention's unwillingness to discuss Scottish independence as a constitutional option.
The Conservative government of the day was very hostile to the convention, and challenged the local authorities' right to finance the convention, although the courts found that they were in fact entitled to do so.
Under its executive chairman, Canon
In December 2013, John McAllion, who participated in the convention as a Labour MP, claimed that it was "self-appointed", "elitist", and "ultimately unrepresentative" of Scottish society, and should not be a model for a future constitutional convention.[1]
Further reading
- McLean, Bob (2005), Getting it Together: The History of the Campaign for a Scottish Assembly/Parliament 1980 - 1999, Luath Press, Edinburgh, ISBN 9-781905222-02-5
See also
- Scotland Act 1978
- Scotland Act 1998
- 1997 Scottish devolution referendum
- Scotland Forward
- Self-determination
References
- ^ a b "Ex-MP: Scotland 'in trouble' if lax on constitution". The Targe. 8 December 2013. Retrieved 8 December 2013.
- ^ a b c Ascherson, Neal (1980), After Devolution, in The Bulletin of Scottish Politics No. 1, Autumn 1980, Edinburgh, pp. 1 - 6
- ISBN 9-781905222-02-5
- ^ a b Boyack, Jim (1981), No Mass Movement: Wheeling and Dealing for a Scottish Assembly, in Easton, Norman (ed.), Crann Tara No. 15, Autumn 1981, pp. 16 & 17
- ^ The Campaign for a Scottish Assembly (1984), The Scottish Constitutional Convention, Discussion Paper
- ^ Baxter, J Neil (26 October 1995). "Professor Sir Robert Grieve". The Herald. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
- The Glasgow Herald. 30 March 1989. p. 1. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
- ^ Clark, William (31 March 1989). "Canon sets the scene for home rule battle with passionate plea". The Glasgow Herald. p. 1. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
- ^ Ritchie, Murray (31 March 1989). "Scots 'history in the making'. Convention displays total harmony". The Glasgow Herald. p. 1. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
- ^ Clark, William (6 July 1989). "The convention time-bomb". The Glasgow Herald. p. 13. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
- ^ Cramb, Auslan (5 October 1989). "Constitutional Convention lists options for Scotland". The Glasgow Herald. p. 9. Retrieved 14 April 2019.