Chronology of Scottish Politics

'Ye see yon birkie ca'd 'a lord,' Wha struts, an stares, an a' that? Tho hundreds worship at his word, He's but a cuif for a' that. For a' that, an a' that, His ribband, star, an a' that, The man o independent mind, He looks an laughs at a' that.' From 'A man's a man for a' that' by Robert Burns.

A Scottish Political Timeline

The Scottish Parliament at Holyrood in Edinburgh, 8 th May 2008.

The following chronology notes some of the most significant and important events in Scottish political history. It is regularily added to and updated. The list presently includes details of parliamentary elections and by-elections back to 1950 and local by-elections back to 1995. Suggestions for additions to this list and any corrections are welcomed.

Significant Political Events

Formation of a nation: Prehistoric times to 843

Alba: 843 - 1058

The House of Dunkeld and the first Scottish parliaments: 1058 - 1290

The Wars of Independence: 1290 - 1371

From the ascension of the Stewarts to Flodden: 1371 - 1513

From Flodden to the Union of the Crowns: 1513 - 1603

From the Union of the Crowns to the Union of the Parliaments: 1603 - 1707

From the Union of the Parliaments until the first Reform Act: 1707 - 1832

From the first Reform Act until the enfranchisement of women: 1832 - 1918

From the enfranchisement of women until the Labour landslide: 1918 - 1945

By year: 1918 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945

From the Labour landslide until Hamilton: 1945 - 1967

By year: 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967

The Devolution years 1967 - 1979

By year: 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979

Eighteen wasted years 1979 - 1997

By year: 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997

A devolved Scottish Parliament? 1997 - 2003

By year: 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

A second term for Labour 2003 - 2007

By year: 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

"A New Time!" 2007 -

By year: 2007 2008 2009 2010

Future events

Documents and Geneologies

The Declaration of Arbroath 1320

Scottish Monarchs and alternative Royal lines