What was the impact of the independence referendum?
In the months leading up to the independence referendum, most public opinion polls showed the 'No' campaign to have a sizeable lead. However, in the last few weeks of the referendum campaign the gap between the 'Yes' and 'No' campaigns narrowed. One opinion poll even placed 'Yes' ahead.
In the days before the referendum, the leaders of Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats offered a 'vow' to the people of Scotland. This vow stated that, in the event of a No vote, the Scottish Parliament could expect to be given further substantial powers over and above those detailed in the Scotland Act 2012.
Scotland Act 2016
The immediate task post-referendum was for all parties to come together to decide which additional powers the Scottish Parliament would be given.
This led to the setting up of the Smith Commission (Report published November 2014) which in turn was used by the UK Parliament as the basis of the Scotland Act 2016.
Reaction to the new powers contained in the Scotland Act 2016 has been mixed. Those continuing to seek Scottish independence feel the extra powers contained within the bill still fall short of what was promised before the referendum. Several SNP and Labour MPs amendments to the bill, which would have given yet more power to the Scottish Parliament, have been rejected by MPs in the House of Commons.
The SNP argued too little time was spent considering the detail of the bill. However, David Mundell, the Conservative Secretary of State for Scotland, claimed the bill would make the Scottish Parliament the most powerful devolved assembly in the world and that the UK Government had delivered on the promises ("the Vow") made before the referendum.