Claim of Right passes to parliament

Canon Kenyon Wright: Led convention

The Claim of Right, declaring ambitions for Scottish devolution, has been handed over to the presiding officer of the new Scottish Parliament.

The document became the declaration of intent for the cross-party Scottish Constitutional Convention, which was set up 10 years ago to press for devolution.

With the Scottish Parliament due to receive its powers on 1 July, the document was handed over to Sir David Steel for future keeping at a ceremony in the new parliament's education centre on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh.

Sir David accepted the Claim of Right on behalf of the parliament from Canon Kenyon Wright, a founder of the convention, who received a CBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.

The Claim of Right was formulated in 1988 and proclaimed: "We acknowledge the sovereign right of the Scottish people to determine the form of Government best suited to their needs."

The Scottish Constitutional Convention, on which members of Labour and the Liberal Democrats sat with other civic and political representatives, argued that Scotland's democratic rights had been eroded since the Treaty of the Act of Union in 1707.

Its main demand was for the right of the Scottish people to elect a new parliament or assembly.

Presiding Officer Sir David Steel

It held its inaugural meeting on 30 March 1989 in the Church of Scotland Assembly Hall, which is now the temporary home of the Scottish Parliament.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony, Sir David Steel said: "The views of the people have been listened to and I hope that the parliament will live up to the many aspirations and expectations placed of it.

"I am already certain that this is one of the most innovative parliaments in Europe, if not further afield."

The convention saw its main role as negotiating with the then Conservative government on devolution for Scotland but it was not until Labour's General Election victory in 1997 that the ambition could be realised and Scotland later voted for a new parliament in a referendum.

First Minister Donald Dewar, and Deputy First Minister and Scottish Liberal Democrat Leader Jim Wallace also attended the handing over ceremony.