49-594: The Scotsman is a Scottish compact newspaper and daily news website headquartered in Edinburgh . First established as a radical political paper in 1817, it began daily publication in 1855 and remained a broadsheet until August 2004. Its parent company, National World , also publishes the Edinburgh Evening News . It had an audited print circulation of 8,762 for July to December 2022. Its website, Scotsman.com, had an average of 138,000 unique visitors
98-650: A leading question , which would be more likely to garner a positive response. The question was amended to "Should Scotland be an independent country?", which the Electoral Commission found was the most neutral and concise of the versions tested. In the 2010 Draft Bill, the Scottish government proposed that there would be one designated campaign organisation for each outcome, both of which would be permitted to spend up to £750,000 on their campaign and to send one free mailshot to every household or voter in
147-584: A minority government led by the First Minister, Alex Salmond . The SNP administration launched a ' National Conversation ' as a consultation exercise in August 2007, part of which included a draft referendum bill, the Referendum (Scotland) Bill . After this, a white paper for the proposed Referendum Bill was published, on 30 November 2009. It detailed four possible scenarios, with the text of
196-471: A 670-page white paper laying out the case for independence and the means by which Scotland might become an independent country. The Scottish Government announced on 21 March 2013 that the referendum would be held on Thursday 18 September 2014. Some media reports mentioned that 2014 would be the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn and that Scotland would also host the 2014 Commonwealth Games and
245-614: A building with the Caledonian Mercury newspaper. In 1860, The Scotsman obtained its own purpose built office on Cockburn Street in Edinburgh designed in the Scots baronial style by the architects Peddie & Kinnear . This backed onto their original offices on the Royal Mile. The building bears the initials "JR" for John Ritchie , the founder of the company. On 19 December 1904, they moved to much larger new offices at
294-468: A day as of 2017. The title celebrated its bicentenary on 25 January 2017. The Scotsman was conceived in 1816 and first launched on 25 January 1817 as a liberal weekly newspaper by lawyer William Ritchie and customs official Charles Maclaren in response to the "unblushing subservience" of competing newspapers to the Edinburgh establishment. These two plus John Ramsay McCulloch were co-founders of
343-468: A devolved Scottish Assembly , a narrow majority of votes were cast in favour of devolution, but this had no effect due to a requirement that the number voting 'Yes' had to exceed 40% of the total electorate. No further constitutional reform was proposed until Labour returned to power in a landslide electoral victory in May 1997 . A second Scottish devolution referendum was held later that year, as promised in
392-735: A referendum concerning the constitution would be outside the legislative power of the Scottish Parliament and that private individuals could challenge a Scottish Parliament referendum bill. The two governments signed the Edinburgh Agreement , which allowed for the temporary transfer of legal authority. Per the Edinburgh Agreement, the UK government drafted an Order in Council granting the Scottish Parliament
441-757: A reshuffle of senior management in April 2012 during which John McLellan who was the paper's editor-in-chief was dismissed. Ian Stewart was previously editor of Edinburgh Evening News and remains as the editor of Scotland on Sunday . In 2012, The Scotsman was named Newspaper of the Year at the Scottish Press Awards. In 2006 the Barclay Brothers sold Barclay House to Irish property magnate Lochlann Quinn, and in 2013 Scottish video games maker Rockstar North , of Grand Theft Auto fame, signed
490-643: A smaller format edition in 2003 for London's commuters , designed to be easier to read when using mass transit . Readers from other parts of the country liked the new format, and The Independent introduced it nationally. The Times and The Scotsman copied the format as The Independent increased in sales. The Times and The Scotsman are now printed exclusively in compact format following trial periods during which both broadsheet and compact version were produced simultaneously. The Independent published its last paper edition on 20 March 2016 and now appears online only. This journalism -related article
539-514: A total electorate of almost 4,300,000 people. This was the first time that the electoral franchise was extended to include 16- and 17-year-olds in Scotland. Yes Scotland was the main campaign group for independence, while Better Together was the main campaign group in favour of maintaining the union. Many other campaign groups , political parties, businesses, newspapers, and prominent individuals were also involved. Prominent issues raised during
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#1732771803296588-941: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This United Kingdom newspaper–related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . 2014 Scottish independence referendum Charles III William , Duke of Rothesay Swinney government The Rt Hon John Swinney MSP The Rt Hon John Swinney MSP Kate Forbes MSP Sixth session Alison Johnstone MSP Angela Constance MSP Dorothy Bain KC The Rt Hon Lord Carloway KC PC United Kingdom Parliament elections European Parliament elections Local elections Referendums Starmer ministry The Rt Hon Keir Starmer MP The Rt Hon Ian Murray MP A referendum on Scottish independence from
637-473: Is a matter for Scotland". Wallace also pointed to the fact that only two of 11 referendums since 1973 had been across all of the United Kingdom. Professor John Curtice cited the precedent of the 1973 Northern Ireland sovereignty referendum (the "border poll"), which allowed only those resident in a part of the UK to vote on its sovereignty. There was debate as to whether the Scottish Parliament had
686-603: The 2011 Scottish Parliament election . Days before the election, Salmond said that legislation for a referendum would be proposed in the "second half of the parliament", as he wanted to secure more powers for the Scottish Parliament via the Scotland Bill first. In the election, the SNP won 69 of the 129 seats, securing a majority in a proportional representative voting system. UK Prime Minister David Cameron congratulated Salmond on his 'emphatic win', but pledged to campaign for
735-432: The 2014 Ryder Cup . Salmond agreed that the presence of these events made 2014 a "good year to hold a referendum". Under the terms of the 2010 Draft Bill, the following people were entitled to vote in the referendum: Convicted prisoners were not able to vote in the referendum. The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) had ruled that this restriction was unlawful, but Scottish judge Lord Glennie said that he believed
784-689: The Kingdom of Ireland in 1801, forming the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland . Most of Ireland left the Union in 1922 to form the Irish Free State ; consequently, the full name of the United Kingdom since 1927 is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland . The Labour Party was committed to home rule for Scotland in the 1920s, but it slipped down its agenda in the following years. The Scottish National Party (SNP)
833-566: The Middle Ages . After fighting a series of wars during the 14th century, the two monarchies entered a personal union in 1603 (the Union of the Crowns ) when James VI of Scotland also became James I of England. The two nations were temporarily united under one government when Oliver Cromwell was declared Lord Protector of a Commonwealth in 1653, but this was dissolved when the monarchy
882-526: The Society for News Design (SND) the World's Best Designed Newspaper for 1994. In December 2005, The Scotsman along with its sister titles owned by The Scotsman Publications Ltd was acquired, in a £160 million deal, by Johnston Press , a company founded in Scotland and at the time one of the top three largest local newspaper publishers in the UK. Ian Stewart has been the editor since June 2012, after
931-548: The United Kingdom was held in Scotland on 18 September 2014. The referendum question was "Should Scotland be an independent country?", which voters answered with "Yes" or "No". The "No" side won with 2,001,926 (55.3%) voting against independence and 1,617,989 (44.7%) voting in favour. The turnout of 84.6% was the highest recorded for an election or referendum in the United Kingdom since the January 1910 general election , which
980-551: The Bill and Referendum to be revealed later. The scenarios were: no change; devolution per the Calman Review ; further devolution; and full independence. The Scottish government published a draft version of the bill on 25 February 2010 for public consultation; Scotland's Future: Draft Referendum (Scotland) Bill Consultation Paper contained a consultation document and a draft version of the bill. The consultation paper set out
1029-640: The ECHR judgment would apply only to parliamentary elections. Appeals against his ruling were rejected by the Court of Session in Edinburgh and the UK Supreme Court . The normal voting age was reduced from 18 to 16 for the referendum, as it was a Scottish National Party policy to reduce the voting age for all elections in Scotland. The move was supported by Labour, the Liberal Democrats and
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#17327718032961078-500: The Labour election manifesto. Clear majorities expressed support for both a devolved Scottish Parliament (74.3% in favour) and that Parliament having the power to vary the basic rate of UK income tax (63.5% in favour). The Scotland Act 1998 established the new Scottish Parliament, first elected on 6 May 1999, with power to legislate on unreserved matters within Scotland. A commitment to hold an independence referendum in 2010
1127-569: The Scottish Green Party (which also created "its own pro-independence campaign to run alongside Yes Scotland") and the Scottish Socialist Party . At its launch, Salmond stated that he hoped one million people in Scotland would sign a declaration of support for independence. On 22 August 2014, Yes Scotland announced that the one million target had been surpassed. The campaign in favour of Scotland remaining in
1176-635: The Scottish Greens. In January 2012, Labour MSP Elaine Murray led a debate arguing that the franchise should be extended to Scots living outside Scotland, including the approximately 800,000 living in the other parts of the UK. This was opposed by the Scottish government, which argued that it would greatly increase the complexity of the referendum and stated that there was evidence from the United Nations Human Rights Committee that other nations "might question
1225-433: The Scottish government's consultation paper published on 25 February 2010, the cost of the referendum was "likely to be around £9.5 million", mostly spent on running the poll and the count. Costs would also include the posting of one neutral information leaflet about the referendum to every Scottish household, and one free mailshot to every household or voter in the poll for the designated campaign organisations. In April 2013,
1274-568: The UK Parliament, and finally, "limited power to borrow money". The third proposal was for full independence. In the 3rd Scottish Parliament only 50 of 129 MSPs (47 SNP, 2 Greens , and Margo MacDonald ) supported a referendum. The Scottish government withdrew the bill in September 2010 after failing to secure opposition support. The SNP repeated its commitment to hold an independence referendum when it published its manifesto for
1323-444: The Union if the SNP carried out their pledge to hold a referendum. In January 2012, the UK government offered to legislate to provide the Scottish Parliament with the powers to hold a referendum, providing it was 'fair, legal and decisive'. This would set 'terms of reference for the referendum', such as its question(s), elector eligibility, and which body would organise the vote. As the UK government worked on legal details, including
1372-503: The company was bought out by JPIMedia , a company which was bought by former Daily Mirror exec David Montgomery's new National World group in 2020. In July 2023 an extra 52 years were added to the archive alongside the previous archives (1951–2002). Compact (newspaper) A compact newspaper is a broadsheet -quality newspaper printed in a tabloid format, especially one in the United Kingdom . The term as used for this size came into use after The Independent began producing
1421-406: The currency", which the UK government would retain. The second proposal outlined Calman-type fiscal reform, gaining the additional powers and responsibilities of setting a Scottish rate of income tax that could vary by up to 10p in the pound compared with the rest of the UK, setting the rate of stamp duty land tax and "other minor taxes", and introducing new taxes in Scotland with the agreement of
1470-550: The lease, causing Johnston Press group to move out in June 2014. Johnston Press have downsized to refurbished premises at Orchard Brae House in Queensferry Road, Edinburgh, a move which was quoted as saving the group £1million per annum in rent. The newspaper backed a 'No' vote in the referendum on Scottish independence . In November 2018, Johnston Press filed for administration . Shortly after filing for administration,
1519-525: The legitimacy of a referendum if the franchise is not territorial". In the House of Lords, Baroness Symons argued that the rest of the UK should be allowed to vote on Scottish independence because it would affect the whole country. This argument was rejected by the UK government, as the Advocate General for Scotland Lord Wallace said that "whether or not Scotland should leave the United Kingdom
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1568-516: The necessary powers to hold, on or before 31 December 2014, an independence referendum. The draft Order was approved by resolutions of both Houses of Parliament, and the Order ("The Scotland Act 1998 (Modification of Schedule 5) Order 2013"), was approved by Queen Elizabeth II at a meeting of the Privy Council on 12 February 2013. Under the powers temporarily transferred from Westminster under
1617-488: The parties in Scotland to spend the following amounts: £1,344,000 (SNP); £834,000 (Labour); £396,000 (Conservatives); £201,000 (Liberal Democrats); £150,000 (Greens). An unlimited number of other organisations could register with the Electoral Commission, but their spending was limited to £150,000. Groups spending more than £250,000 were required to submit audited returns to the Commission by 18 March 2015. According to
1666-403: The poll and announcement of the result, and the giving of grants. In its role of regulating the campaign and campaign spending, the Electoral Commission will report to the Scottish Parliament. (...) The poll and count will be managed in the same way as [local] elections, by local returning officers (...) and directed by a Chief Counting Officer". The Edinburgh Agreement stated that the wording of
1715-521: The power to legislate for a referendum relating to the issue of Scottish independence, as the constitution is a matter reserved to the UK Parliament. The Scottish government insisted in 2010 that they could legislate for a referendum, as it would be an "advisory referendum on extending the powers of the Scottish Parliament", whose result would "have no legal effect on the Union". Lord Wallace, Advocate General for Scotland, said in January 2012 that holding
1764-457: The projected cost of the referendum was £13.3 million; the final administrative cost was £15.85 million. The campaign in favour of Scottish independence, Yes Scotland , was launched on 25 May 2012. Its chief executive was Blair Jenkins , formerly the Director of Broadcasting at STV and Head of News and Current Affairs at both STV and BBC Scotland . The campaign was supported by the SNP,
1813-434: The proposed ballot papers, the mechanics of the proposed referendum, and how the proposed referendum was to be regulated. Public responses were invited. The bill outlined three proposals: the first was full devolution or 'devolution max', suggesting that the Scottish Parliament should be responsible for "all laws, taxes and duties in Scotland", except for "defence and foreign affairs; financial regulation, monetary policy and
1862-405: The question would be decided by the Scottish Parliament and reviewed for intelligibility by the Electoral Commission. The Scottish government stated that its preferred question was "Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country?" The Electoral Commission tested the proposed question along with three other possible versions. Their research found that the "Do you agree" preface made it
1911-437: The referendum franchise. There was to be no public funding for campaigns. Registered political parties were each to be allowed to spend £100,000. This proposed limit on party spending was increased to £250,000 in 2012. In 2013, new proposals by the Electoral Commission for the 16-week regulated period preceding the poll were accepted. They allowed the two designated campaign organisations to spend up to £1.5 million each and for
1960-442: The referendum included what currency an independent Scotland would use, public expenditure, EU membership, and North Sea oil . An exit poll revealed that retention of the pound sterling was the deciding factor for those who voted No, while "disaffection with Westminster politics" was the deciding factor for those who voted Yes. The Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England were established as independent countries during
2009-549: The section 30 Order, the Scottish Parliament adopted the Scottish Independence Referendum Act 2013 . The Act was passed by the Scottish Parliament on 14 November 2013 and received Royal Assent on 17 December 2013. Under section 36 of the Act, it came into force the day after Royal Assent. The Electoral Commission was responsible for overseeing the referendum, "with the exception of the conduct of
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2058-454: The timing of the vote, Salmond announced an intention to hold the referendum in the autumn of 2014. Negotiations continued between the two governments until October 2012, when the Edinburgh Agreement was reached. The Scottish Independence Referendum (Franchise) Act 2013 was passed by the Scottish Parliament on 27 June 2013 and received Royal Assent on 7 August 2013. On 26 November 2013, the Scottish government published Scotland's Future ,
2107-507: The top of Cockburn Street, facing onto North Bridge, designed by Dunn & Findlay (Findlay being the son of the then owner). This huge building had taken three years to build and also had connected printworks on Market Street (in 2024 the City Art Centre). The printworks connected below road level direct to Waverley station in an efficient production line. In 1953 the newspaper was bought by Canadian millionaire Roy Thomson who
2156-532: The venture. The paper was pledged to "impartiality, firmness and independence". The price was originally 6d plus 4d tax. After the abolition of newspaper stamp tax in Scotland in 1855, The Scotsman was relaunched as a daily newspaper priced at 1d and a circulation of 6,000 copies. The fledgling paper was originally based at 257 High Street on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. Until 1860 the Scotsman shared
2205-570: Was restored in 1660. Scotland and England united to form the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707 ( Wales had already been unilaterally incorporated into England in the mid-16th century ). The Scots favoured union to solve the economic problems caused by the failure of the Darien scheme and the English favoured it to secure the Hanoverian line of succession . Great Britain in turn united with
2254-482: Was founded in 1934, but did not achieve significant electoral success until the 1960s. A petition calling for home rule, the Scottish Covenant , was signed by 2,000,000 people (out of a population of 5,000,000) in the late 1940s. As James Callaghan 's Labour Government of the late 1970s was pressured by the SNP, Scottish devolution was, for the first time, seriously proposed. In a 1979 referendum for
2303-704: Was held before the introduction of universal suffrage . The Scottish Independence Referendum Act 2013 set out the arrangements for the referendum and was passed by the Scottish Parliament in November 2013, following an agreement between the devolved Scottish government and the Government of the United Kingdom. The independence proposal required a simple majority to pass. All European Union (EU) or Commonwealth citizens residing in Scotland age 16 or over could vote, with some exceptions, which produced
2352-549: Was in the process of building a large media group. The paper was bought in 1995 by David and Frederick Barclay for £85 million. They moved the newspaper from its Edinburgh office on North Bridge , which is now an upmarket hotel , to modern offices in Holyrood Road designed by Edinburgh architects CDA, near the subsequent location of the Scottish Parliament Building . The daily was awarded by
2401-462: Was part of the SNP's election manifesto when it contested the 2007 Scottish Parliament election . The press were largely hostile towards the SNP, with a headline for The Scottish Sun in May 2007 stating – beside an image of a hangman's noose – "Vote SNP today and you put Scotland's head in the noose". As a result of that election, the SNP became the largest party in the Scottish Parliament and formed
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