Donald Dewar Biography and Timeline

Birth of Donald Dewar

Birth of Donald Dewar

Member of Parliament

Elected Member of Parliament for Aberdeen South

Role range: 1966-1970

Parliamentary Private Secretary

Appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to Tony Crossland

Member of Parliament

Elected Member of Parliament for Garscadden

Shadow Minister

Appointed Spokesman for Scottish Affairs

Role range: 1983-1992

Claim of Right Signed

Donald Dewar supported the Scottish Claim of Right, a constitutional statement affirming the sovereignty of the Scottish people.

Shadow Minister

Appointed Spokesman for Social Security

Convention Publishes Devolution Blueprint

The Scottish Constitutional Convention published proposals for a parliament with defined legislative powers.

Constitution of Great Britain

Introduces the Scotland Bill to the Commons, for a Scottish Parliament. Introduces the Scotland Bill, legislative powers for a Scottish Parliament

Role range: 1997-2007

Independence of Great Britain

Introduces the Scotland Bill, legislative powers for a Scottish Parliament

Role range: 1997-2007

Independence of Scotland

Introduces the Scotland Bill, legislative powers for a Scottish Parliament

Role range: 1997-2007

Legislation

Introduces the Scotland Bill to the Commons, for a Scottish Parliament

Role range: 1997-2007

Scottish Referendum Approves Parliament

Voters approved the creation of a Scottish Parliament and supported giving it limited tax varying powers.

Scotland Bill First Reading

Donald Dewar introduced the Scotland Bill in the House of Commons to establish the devolved Scottish Parliament.

Constitution of Great Britain

The Scotland Bill passes its 2nd reading in the House of Comons

Role range: 1997-2007

Scotland Bill Commons Committee

MPs examined the Scotland Bill in detail, debating legislative competence and the division of powers between parliaments.

Scotland Bill Commons Report

The Commons considered proposed changes to the Scotland Bill before the legislation proceeded through its remaining stages.

Scotland Bill Lords Scrutiny

The House of Lords scrutinised the Scotland Bill, considering parliamentary powers and constitutional safeguards.

Scotland Act Royal Assent

The Scotland Bill became the Scotland Act 1998, providing the statutory basis for Scottish devolution.

Devolved Parliament First Election

The first Scottish Parliament election took place under the institutional framework established by the Scotland Act 1998.

Scottish Parliament Opens

The newly elected Scottish Parliament began meeting, transferring important domestic legislative responsibilities from Westminster.

Death of Donald Dewar

Death of Donald Dewar