1997 in Scotland
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List of years in Scotland Timeline of Scottish history 1997 in: The UK • England • Wales • Ireland • Elsewhere Scottish football: 1996–97 • 1997–98 1997 in Scottish television |
Events from the year 1997 in Scotland
Incumbents
Further information: Politics of Scotland and Order of precedence in Scotland
- Monarch — Elizabeth II
- Secretary of State for Scotland and Keeper of the Great Seal — Michael Forsyth until 2 May; then Donald Dewar
Law officers
- Lord Advocate — Lord Mackay of Drumadoon; then Lord Hardie
- Solicitor General for Scotland — Paul Cullen; then Colin Boyd
Judiciary
- Lord President of the Court of Session and Lord Justice General — Lord Rodger of Earlsferry
- Lord Justice Clerk — Lord Ross, then Lord Cullen
- Chairman of the Scottish Land Court — Lord McGhie
Events
- 22 February — Scientists at the Roslin Institute announce the birth of a cloned sheep named Dolly seven months after the fact.[1]
- 31 March — Train operating company ScotRail (acquired by National Express Group) begins operation of its passenger service franchise in Scotland as part of the privatisation of British Rail, the last company to be sold.
- April–October — In the Outer Hebrides, the Northern Lighthouse Board constructs a new light on Haskeir with minor lights on Gasker and on Shillay, Monach Islands.[2]
- 1 May — UK General Election results in all Conservative MPs in Scotland losing their seats.[3] Edinburgh-born Tony Blair (Labour) becomes Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Mohammad Sarwar, elected for Labour in Glasgow Govan, becomes the UK's first ever Muslim MP.
- 5 August — James Reid is jailed for life for the murder of four-year-old James Ward, whose skull was struck by so many blows with a slater's hammer that it was smashed into fragments, like a jigsaw.[4]
- 7 September — Clyde Auditorium opened in Glasgow.
- 8 September — The football clubs in the Premier Division decide to split from the Scottish Football League and form the Scottish Premier League from next season.
- 11 September — Referendum in Scotland on the creation of a national Parliament with devolved powers takes place. Voters back the plans for a national Parliament with limited tax raising powers.[5]
- October — The Grand Theft Auto video game, developed by DMA Design in Dundee, is launched.
- 6 November — Labour holds the Paisley South by-election despite a swing of 11.3% to the Scottish National Party.
- 18 December — The bill to establish the Scottish Parliament unveiled by Secretary of State for Scotland Donald Dewar.[6]
- December — Valhalla Brewery, the most northerly in Britain, opened on Unst.
- Equality Network established to campaign for LGBT rights in Scotland.
Deaths
- 22 January — Billy Mackenzie, singer, by suicide (born 1957)
- 4 September — Belle Stewart, traditional singer (born 1906)
- Angus McPhee, outsider artist (born 1916)
The Arts
- Wigtown and Dalmellington become book towns.
References
- ↑ "Dolly the sheep is cloned". BBC News. 22 February 1997. Retrieved 10 February 2008.
- ↑ "Monach". Lighhouse Library. Edinburgh: Northern Lighthouse Board. 2009. Retrieved 2016-03-13.
- ↑ "1997: Labour routs Tories in historic election". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 17 May 2013.
- ↑ "Cheers as murderer gets life for hammer attack which left boy's skull in fragments". HeraldScotland. 6 August 1997. Retrieved 21 October 2011.
- ↑ "Scots say 'Yes' to home rule". BBC News. 12 September 1997. Retrieved 10 February 2008.
- ↑ "Dawn of Scottish parliament". BBC News. 18 December 1997. Retrieved 10 February 2008.
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