The Scottish Parliament
'There shall be a Scottish parliament. I like that.'
(The late Donald Dewar, Scotland's First Minister, 1997)
With these words, the 'settled will of the Scottish people' was expressed for a devolved parliament for Scotland. We present here a list of books on the politics, the people, and that building.
The Scottish Parliament (the institution, not the present building) officially opened for business on 1 July 1999, meeting for the first time in 300 years. Donald Dewar, the Glasgow Labour MSP for Anniesland, had been elected First Minister in the first elections held on 6 May of that year and David Steel of the Lib-Dems was voted Presiding Officer. The first sessions were held in the Church of Scotland's Assembly Halls on the Mound in Edinburgh that same month and one of the items for debate was the question of whether a new parliament building was required. It was. The final site of Holyrood at the foot of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh was chosen with two architect firms, EMBT of Barcelona and RMJM of Edinburgh, being awarded the design contract. The building was opened on 9 October 2004 after a stormy period of budgetary revisions, hold-ups, public reviews, and intense debate in the media.
The Scottish Parliament consists of 129 elected representatives, known as Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs), and has the power to pass legislation and alter the rate of tax. Devolved powers include education, health and prisons whilst other areas of decision-making, called Reserved Powers, are dealt with at Westminster. (Don't get us started on the West Lothian Question...)
General Interest
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Add to BasketHolyrood And Canongate: A Thousand Years Of History - Paperback -
£9.99
Holyrood and Canongate lie at the heart of Edinburgh's old town, their stones drenched in the history of the Scottish nation. This book traces the complete history of the Abbey of Holyrood and its burgh of Canongate from prehistoric times to the present day. -
Add to BasketHolyrood: The Inside Story - Paperback -
£13.99
Powerful, thought-provoking and thoroughly researched, this book explores in great depth the story of Holyrood itself: the first years of devolution and the nature of modern Scotland - stories for which the Holyrood building has become a potent and revealing metaphor. -
Lucky Jack: Scotland's First Minister - Hardback -
£14.99
Lorraine Davidson here provides the definitive biography of Scotland's First Minister, Jack McConnell. She charts his career and move into politics and doesn't shirk from investigating the infighting and power struggles. McConnell's personal life also comes under scrutiny. -
Add to BasketThe Road To The Scottish Parliament - Paperback -
£22.99
First published in 1999, this revised and updated guide to the establishment of Scotland's Parliament follows the road to devolution - with fresh detail of the obstacles which stood in the way. The author offers an analysis of the background to this monumental political change. -
Add to BasketScotland's Parliament: Triumph And Disaster - Paperback -
£14.99
For this companion volume to 'The Scottish Parliament', Brian Taylor has spoken - on and off the record - to the key players in Scotland's developing political drama. He tells the inside story of Scotland's Parliament - the horse-trading and the gossip - as well as offering dispassionate analysis. -
Add to BasketA Scots Parliament - Paperback -
£6.99
This is a comprehensive introduction to the Scottish Parliament, both past and present, written in accessible, straightforward modern Scots. -
Add to BasketThe Scottish Parliament: A Scandinavian-Style Assembly? - Hardback -
£39.50
Since devolution in 1999 Scotland can be considered a Scandinavian-style small democracy with several features common to a Scandinavian parliament. In short David Arter asks whether Scotland's parliament is developing a Scandinavian-style parliamentarism. -
Add to BasketVoyage Of Intent: Sonnets And Essays From The Scottish Parliament - Paperback -
£6.99
Here are 11 sonnets and three essays written by James Robertson. They create snapshots of the Scottish Parliament and the people working and living in and around it, and convey the historical relationship between Scottish literature, identity, politics and the Royal Mile as a literary location.
Politics and History titles
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Add to BasketAgenda For A New Scotland: Visions Of Scotland 2020 - Paperback
£9.99
It has now reconvened after nearly 300 years. A Devolved Legislature but a Parliament all the same. Unable to address all issues but able to make a difference in many areas. It is for the Scottish Parliament to shape and mould the future of Scotland. But, -
Add to BasketCreating A Scottish Parliament - Paperback -
£9.99
This book puts the building of Scotland's new parliament in perspective, making use of unique access to documents and materials. It also includes the drawings of the architect, Enric Miralles and photographs of the Holyrood building as well as prints from Edinburgh's past. -
Add to BasketA Diverse Assembly: The Debate On A Scottish Parliament - Paperback -
£18.99
The 1997 Scottish Referendum confirmed the wish of the Scottish people for their first Parliament in almost 300 years. In this book Paterson draws together a collection of the key arguments for and against the reinstating of a Scottish Parliament. -
Add to BasketThe Government Of Scotland: Public Policy Making After Devolution - Paperback -
£16.90
A critical challenge to Scotland's new system of government is the making and implementation of public policy. This book offers a comprehensive account of the policy process in contemporary Scotland. -
Add to BasketHas Devolution Delivered? - Paperback
£25.99
The editors draw upon a range of Scottish election studies and Scottish social attitudes surveys to explore the early success- or otherwise- of devolution in changing the way people feel about their country and the way they are governed. -
Add to BasketScottish Government And Politics - Paperback -
£19.99
This work provides a descriptive and analytical introduction to Scottish government and politics. It covers the emergence of the Scottish parliament and its impact on politics and political actors such as the media, political parties and pressure groups. -
Add to BasketScottish Independence: A Practical Guide - Paperback -
£27.99
This study maps out the route to independence for Scotland and spells out the consequences. Its focus is on the process whereby Scotland might achieve independence and the consequences that would follow for Scotland and the rest of the UK.
Internet Links
- The Official Scottish Parliament Site
- Acts of the Scottish Parliament
- Donald Dewar
- Donald Dewar biography
- Enric Miralles and Benedetta Tagliabue (architects of the building)
- RMJM (architects of the building)
Image licensed from scran.ac.uk


















