Scotland's Smoking Gun Referendum Documentaries

Nelda is time for the first episode of the upcoming documentary series

of the Scottish referendum. 2014 and here we are on the brink of a

historic vote. And -- a referendum in eight months time they could

unravel the act of union and signal the breakup of the United Kingdom.

How did we get here? What caused it? To put it another way, what is

Scotland boss like smoking gun. Can be traced back to the rebellious

baby boomers or the discovery of the black stuff in the North Sea? In

Scotland, the PISA oil had been discovered and I thought bingo, that

is it. A yes vote in 1979 meant no. The number of no votes, 1,153,000.

Is Maggie, Maggie, Maggie the smoking gun? Or the creation of a

devolved parliament in 1999 do us all a taste was on the wall. There

shall be a Scottish parliament, I like that. And a hunt for the smoke

-- first smoking gun start in the 1960s. War is over and the world is

swinging to a new breed. -- beat. In the 1960s, the world seemed a more

uncertain place. It was confusing, divided and dangerous but most of

all, exciting. The explosion of new ideas and lifestyles would be a

challenge to the old order. One small step for man... One giant leap

for mankind. There was a sense of something building. A lot that

challenge that the way things were. Can the real change in Scotland be

down to one thing? Television? Television starts kicking in. Most

people did not have a TV in the 50s and by the 60s, most of them had.

Television did not show the football, it was also responsible

for a new kind of politics. Personality politics. Maybe it was

personality politics that would change British politics, ushering in

a new Chancellor in the referendum story. Britain had Harold Wilson

that Scotland had the X Factor. 1967 and the SNP creates a political

sensation with a member voted into Parliament. How personality

dominated campaign, it was something unique in Scotland. Labour frankly

was not equipped to flirt with that. It was machine man politics and the

failure to look ahead. I think it was an enormous shark and it was a

realisation that votes could not be taken for granted. And he had a very

colourful, articulate woman. It was a massive shock wave, they did not

see it coming. The majority she turned over was a huge lead the

majority. Nobody in the Labour Party saw coming. The impact that had,

immediately, was fundamental, indeed. Hamilton has made history

for Scotland tonight. Thank you. Was the victory a key to how Scots could

warrant a referendum cause? What it did was split the parties of a union

to offer Scots the possibility of some kind of self-government. We are

pledged to give the people of Scotland genuine participation in

all decisions that affect them. In a little over ten years, Scotland

had changed beyond all recognition. Scotland's Young had found their

voice, a voice in the future may talk of self-government. If National

is's time had not quite come, at least it had a new kid on the block.

On the other side of the independence to fight, Labour and

Tories had now signed up to the idea of home rule. As we turn the corner

into the next decade, you could perhaps look forward with some

confidence. The 70s. The decade of Glam Rock, the three-day week and

some of the worst crimes against fashion. The world was suffering

from rising inflation and rising unemployment. The British economy

was in trouble. In our story, looking for this year's referendum

smoking gun, the 70s are dominated by one thing. Oil. I read in the

Scotsman, a piece that said that oil had been discovered. It wasn't even

FrontPage. Inside the paper, oil had been discovered. I thought, bingo.

That is it. This is the stuff we are talking about. Won liquid gold.

Britain now has oil. Five and a half thousand tonnes of hope and capital

investment standing foursquare in the North Sea. When oil was switched

on and we saw the pipeline coming in, the oil coursing through the

vein of the pipe. We did get a sense that this was something that was

very important to Scotland's future. If we use it right, the fun of

energy can without doubt much improved our economic well-being.

This could be Scotland's currency. Things were never the same again.

There was a great feeling of excitement. It became a significant

game changer. Oil means money. Shetland has a likely fast the

different future to its past because of the oil discoveries near it

carries. We will have to face up to the temptations of the devil. What

are we Scots going to get from it without self-government? There was a

you generation being the SNP then. They grasped it big time. The whole

world opens up to us with self-government. The slogan was, it

is Scotland's oil. Simple as anything. Were worried about what

the impact of this would be. This coupled with the revenues from oil

would have spooked the parties of the union. Labour and Conservative.

Swept away, the only argument you had consistently at that time was

that we could not afford it. The oil said, yes we can. Is it right to

base in -- Independent on the passing prosperity of oil. While

Labour and Conservatives took up the cudgels. A new developments in

through the back door. Gavin was a seat where people had Labour

households with no problems. The parties became unpopular and seem to

get out of touch with people and the Nationalists were a new party, a

vigourous party, they had, I put it this way, they had something which

people wanted. People felt Labour were too confident. They were too

sure of themselves. And they felt they were running Scotland. They did

not bother having a count, they just wait the votes and saved public

money. In 1973, Margo romped to victory. The following year she lost

but seven other SNP members were elected. Still small compared to

Labour's 40 MPs. The SNP vote was not a vote for independence, it was

a vote for change. What happened was a show of the SNP break meant people

were very worried and set up and change minds about the need to

support an assembly. There was panic. Soon afterwards, seven became

11. In London, Harold Wilson was worried. He was what -- running a

minority government and came up with a plan. It would give him little to

save a lot. Wilson was not a pro- demolition list. He may have

pretended to be at times. They were frightened for themselves. Demand is

being articulated in a demand for Scottish assembly. On March one,

1979, the country did vote. With a election of nearly three and three

quarters million, the Scottish office has drafted in a army of

Christ to count the votes and by early evening, Scotland should know

if it is yes and no. -- an army of cloaks. The number of yes votes,

1,230,000. The number of no votes. 1,153,502. It was a close run thing

but Scotland had voted yes. Had in it? There was a sting in the tail,

just before the referendum campaign had started, the goalposts had

moved. At least 40% of the electorate had to vote yes before

the vet -- referendum bill could be passed. Scotland's first opportunity

for self-government passed us by. Why is full-blown independence back

on the table? As the 1970s came to a close, it is doubtful anyone could

have predicted in independence referendum 35 years later. They have

the said as a service, not as the master. These are the dish

inheritance. Nobody could have seen the devolutionist biggest supporter

as Maggie Thatcher. As the 80s began, Scotland was contemplating

the death of traditional industries. And in London, particular, it seemed

as if it was all about just one thing. It was become money for money

sake. Some people say we're not a Scottish party, but neither we in

English party. Was a get rich quick period. Profit for profits sake.

That is when I realised that a culture that I love the my father

loved was going in a different direction. Britain. Like a nation

divided and for many going into the voting booths, a smoking gun that

led to the referendum is summed up in two words. Maggie and Thatcher.

Margaret Thatcher did change things. It was a social revolution that she

brought about. Turns out that we in Scotland did not much like many's --

Maggie's medicine for change. One recent opinion poll put at as low as

12%. It is a government of occupation we are facing in

Scotland. Just as surely as if they had an army at our backs will stop

when you think about it, I have is they have. The Democratic do assert

-- devs are becoming more apparent, that was the Scottish National

Convention, the purpose to take Maggie on. What happens if the other

voice we all know so well responds, responds by saying we say no. We say

no and we are the state. Well, we say yes and we other people. --

other people. Scots seem to be seen from the same hymn sheet and thanks

to Maggie, things were about to explode. I think the feeling was

that if she was doing it to help Scotland, people in Scotland should

hear about it and should do that -- do something about it and welcome

it. The opposite happened. They became regarded as a nasty Thatcher

conspiracy to do damage to Scotland. The thing that really got people the

wrong way was making Scotland the guinea pig. For heavens sake. Just

that? It didn't bother Margaret Thatcher she didn't have Scotland.

It troubled her terribly. The very fact... It went to her soul in a way

the few people would understand. It is not going to -- good looking at

the campaign. It destroyed Margaret Thatcher. Westminster can nothing

for Scotland. They looked for the churches, trade unions and pop world

to make protest. Everyone you change had to come. But what or who? The

biggest story at the start of the decade was to the departure of

Margaret Thatcher. The end of an era in British politics. We are leaving

Downing Street for the last time. Margaret Thatcher resigned. I ran

through the train shouting. Everybody was cheering on the

Glasgow to Edinburgh train. Could Maggie's diaper to be a smoking gun?

It sparked Labor back to life. With every day that passes, it looks like

the real... Bight in 1982, they looked like they could win the

upcoming election. In that election, Neil Kinnock was sounding the fund.

But the party would stumble. We expected to win. We had not

convinced the public we could -- and they could trust Labor at that

point. The Tories led by a major, Margaret Thatcher's successor, won

the election. The Tories held just a handful of seats in Scotland. People

expected Labour to win but they didn't. On Saturday morning, people

just went to George Square. People were determined this was going to

happen again. What started as a mob syndicate Scotland United. A

grassroots movement demanding role. For the S, after being in the

doldrums through the 1980s, a new leader in the 1990s was helping them

find their feet. Alex Salmond has won the leadership with an appalling

majority. -- overwhelming. With a cold wind- my of the Scottish

people. -- hearts and minds. John Smith was an ardent devotion

the list. The establishment of Scotland's when

Parliament is unfinished business. John had a sense of mission. He was

a Scot through and through and a brilliant politician. He would have

been a great Prime Minister. That didn't happen. Is life was

tragically cut short. It is brief time as they believed, he got into

the pollution. Nobody he followed him could have ignored the momentous

decision. Batman revolution. Tony Blair was never really connected

with evolution. He was sure he could take on the Smith legacy. Blair's

power to deliver devolution was limited. Was about to change. Tony

Blair with a huge majority. In the election of 1997, new Labor swept

the board. Tony Blair became the first Labour Prime Minister in 18

years. We will govern as new Labor. That moment brought to an end the

conservative era and brought in a time where would have substantial

people we would -- where we would do substantial thing for Britain.

Labour's win was due to support in Scotland. It will turn 56 Labour

MPs. As promised, the Scotland act was passed. A referendum was called

for 1987. Tim Paine got under way. 74% of Scots said yesterday the

parliament in Scotland. -- campaigning got under way. There

shall be a Scottish parliament. I like that. This man became the

father of the nation and was elected as first Minister. Alex Salmond had

-- went south to Westminster. The 1990s. Tony Blair delivered a

Scottish parliament. Some predicted devolution would kill nationalists.

But returning from self-imposed exile was one Alexander Elliott

Anderson summoned. In time, everything was to change. But could

hunt for the cause of the sea's referendum into on this entry's most

iconic images so far? -- this year's referendum. The pain of 9/11

would soon turn to theory. And that theory into the right call. When

Tony Blair joined the American War on Terror, popular anger turned

against the Labor. Alex Salmond to ever opportunity to attack Labor

over the war. There are creating the circumstances in which terrorism,

disarray and civil war and bloodbath are occurring. Alex Salmond is true

to have politicians and campaigners. Here is that to good

effect. There were deeper issues at work. -- he used that. And there was

a venturing into ghastly wars. Something shut in Scotland. Maybe

the reason of this year's referendum have lasted over the war thousands

of away and had more to do with difficult hand of fate and the

unpredictable world of politics. Thousands gathered to lay to rest

the first Minister of Scotland. Donald was a big guy politically.

His death was a shock. Possibly, our last smoking gun fall in the

September referendum returned from the wilderness. The SNP got their

act together. Alex Salmond came back with dynamism. In 2004 and 27 Mac,

it changed the mindset of Scotland. To go from, what is wrong with

Scotland to selling, this is the positives and potential of a

self-governing Scotland. SNP had all the factors working in the favour to

win. When they did. They had one more seat than labour. -- win. I

think we won the election. He was not going to frighten the horses. It

was business as usual. By 2011, he had a populist, credible and

competent government. In the elections that year, he achieved

what many thought was impossible, and overall majority for the ascent

-- SNP. The day and night belonged to the SNP. They promised a

referendum in the run-up to the election. After negotiations, they

kept their promise. The people of Scotland with a yes or no. The

question, should Scotland be an independent country? I am happy to

be British and Scottish. There is a huge advantage I can see to be part

of the UK. Who knows what it ahead of us in 20 years time? This is our

time. This is a time of reckoning. We have to take it. This referendum

on whether we become independent is extraordinary. Not a fist has been

thrown. Some ugly words have thrown. Not a tin can or bomb. It has shown

Scotland to be a very mature political entity now. Now the future

is fair for us whatever comes. So, on the 18th of September this year,

it is over to you folks. Of course, how we got here isn't about one

smoking gun at all. No. Scotland's political story of the past 60 years

is an accelerating roller-coaster of unforeseen events and unpredictable

consequences, off key personalities, mistakes, triumphs, and of the

changing nature of how the world works. Hang on to your bonnets. The

next eight months might be the most exciting rider of all.

After Friday, we are left with flood warnings. High tides and strong

westerly