The people of Scotland appeared to be making history this morning by voting to re-establish their own parliament after almost 300 years.
The Scottish Secretary, Mr Donald Dewar, led the cheering inside the Edinburgh International Conference Centre as the first declarations showed massive majorities for the creation of an Edinburgh parliament, complete with tax-raising powers.Scotland's smallest constituency, Clackmannan, was first to declare, at 12.43 a.m., with 18,790 (80 per cent) voting for the creation of the parliament to 4,706 (20 per cent) against. On the second question, as to whether it should have tax varying powers, 16,112 (68 per cent) said yes, to 7,355 (31.3 per cent) against.Minutes later North Lanarkshire - one of the big five counting areas - voted "Yes, Yes", with 114,908 (77.8 per cent) backing the parliament against 32,762(22.2 per cent) and 99,587 (67.6 per cent) agreeing the tax provision against 47,708 (32.4 per cent) saying No.While Mr Dewar awaited further results before claiming victory, Mr Alex Salmond, the Scottish National Party leader, said Scotland was going to claim her parliament "not with a whimper but a bang".After initial reports of a low turnout (which the government feared could be used to question the legitimacy of a new parliament) it was confirmed that the national poll, on a slightly out-of-date register, was a healthy 62 per cent.In Clackmannan the turnout was 66.1 per cent and in North Lanarkshire 63.1 per cent.
While the result in East Renfrewshire was eagerly awaited, the unconfirmed indication was that the turnout there was 68 per cent.It seemed clear that a hugely important differential was at work, with pro-devolutionists turning out in numbers comparable to the 1979 referendum, while Conservative opponents had given up the battle and stayed at home.Anticipating victory, Mr Alistair Darling, an Edinburgh MP and Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said: "I think the settled will of the Scottish people will become clear. A Yes vote will finally put the issue to rest."The Welsh minister, Mr Peter Hain, said the emerging result in Scotland would show the way for the people of Wales, who vote in a referendum on the creation of a Welsh Assembly next Thursday.Victory in Scotland will empower Mr Blair's government as it sets about re-drawing the constitutional map of Britain. The 129 members of the proposed Scottish Parliament, which is to be up-and-running on January 1st, 2000, will have massive powers and control of a budget currently standing at around £14 billion sterling. The Welsh Assembly, with more limited administrative powers would be followed by the election of a new authority for London, headed by a powerful elected mayor.And the government's expectation appears to be that the answer to the famed "West Lothian Question" (about the rights of Scottish MPs at Westminster post devolution) will be a growing demand for further devolution to the English regions. Mr Blair said early today that he was "absolutely delighted" with early results which showed resounding support for the setting up of a Scottish parliament.