Editing 1997 Scottish devolution referendum (section)

==Campaign==
[[Scottish Labour]], the [[Scottish National Party|SNP]], [[Scottish Liberal Democrats]], and [[Scottish Greens]] campaigned for a "Yes" vote for both proposals whilst the [[Scottish Conservatives]] opposed both proposals. Labour [[Member of Parliament|MP]] [[Tam Dalyell]] opposed the creation of the Parliament, but accepted that it should have tax-varying powers if it were to be established.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/politics97/devolution/scotland/briefing/dissent.shtml |title=Dissent Within the Labour Party |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |access-date=31 August 2007 |archive-date=23 November 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041123092731/http://www.bbc.co.uk/politics97/devolution/scotland/briefing/dissent.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>

The official Yes campaign, ''Scotland Forward'' (styled "Scotland FORward"), was headed by the businessman Nigel Smith and came out of the groups that had previously formed the [[Scottish Constitutional Convention]], along with the [[Scottish National Party]]. It was supported by the Labour, SNP, Liberal Democrat and Green parties.<ref name=BBC_Brief>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/politics97/devolution/scotland/briefing/scotbrief1.shtml |title=BBC Briefing |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |access-date=20 June 2018 |archive-date=19 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919032802/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/politics97/devolution/scotland/briefing/scotbrief1.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>

The official No campaign, ''Think Twice'', was headed by [[Brian Monteith]], a former employee of the [[Scottish Conservatives|Conservative]] MP [[Michael Forsyth, Baron Forsyth of Drumlean|Michael Forsyth]]. Board members included [[Donald Findlay]], [[rector of the University of St Andrews]] and vice-chairman of [[Rangers F.C.]], and senior Conservative [[House of Lords|peer]] [[Peter Fraser, Baron Fraser of Carmyllie|Lord Fraser]]. However, it struggled to get much business support as they were wary of opposing a project that had such support from the new government which had a large majority.<ref name=BBC_Brief/>

Campaigning in the referendum was suspended between the [[death of Diana, Princess of Wales|death]] and [[funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales]].<ref name = "diana">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/politics97/devolution/scotland/news/310897.shtml |title=Referendum Campaign Is Suspended As A Mark Of Respect |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |access-date=17 January 2017 |archive-date=31 December 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231171229/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/politics97/devolution/scotland/news/310897.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> It was speculated that the Scottish referendum could have been postponed, but this would have required a recall of the UK Parliament and an amendment to the [[Referendums (Scotland and Wales) Act 1997|Referendums Act]].<ref name = "diana"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/19106361.revealed-tory-attempt-stop-devolution-vote-princess-dianas-death/ |title=Secret files reveal William Hague asked Tony Blair to suspend devolution vote |first=Kathleen |last=Nutt |work=[[The National (Scotland)|The National]] |date=21 February 2021 |access-date=22 July 2021 |archive-date=22 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722150750/https://www.thenational.scot/news/19106361.revealed-tory-attempt-stop-devolution-vote-princess-dianas-death/ |url-status=live }}</ref>