2013 in Scotland explained

Events from the year 2013 in Scotland.

Incumbents

• • First Minister and Keeper of the Great Seal – Alex Salmond Secretary of State for Scotland – Michael Moore until 7 October; then Alistair Carmichael

Law officers

• Lord Advocate – Frank Mulholland
• Solicitor General for Scotland – Lesley Thomson
• Advocate General for Scotland – Lord Wallace of Tankerness

Judiciary

• Lord President of the Court of Session and Lord Justice General – Lord Gill
• Lord Justice Clerk – Lord Carloway
• Chairman of the Scottish Land Court – Lord McGhie

Events

January

• 15 January – Former Celtic FC manager Gordon Strachan is confirmed as the new manager of the Scotland national football team.^[1]
• 19 January – Four people die in an avalanche at Glencoe.^[2]

February

• 7 February – Plans announced for a second Gaelic school in Glasgow to meet growing demand.^[3]
• 22 February – Cardinal Keith O'Brien, leader of the Catholic Church in Scotland, says he believes priests should be able to marry if they wish to do so.^[4]
• 25 February – Cardinal Keith O'Brien steps down as leader of the Catholic Church in Scotland, after being accused of inappropriate sexual behaviour towards priests dating back to the 1980s.^[5]
• 27 February
  • Archbishop of Glasgow Philip Tartaglia is appointed apostolic administrator of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh following the resignation of Cardinal Keith O'Brien.^[6]
  • Dumfries and Galloway councillors approve plans for the Star of Caledonia public artwork intended to mark the Scotland-England border at Gretna.^[7]

March

• 15 March
  • McCluskey Report recommends legal press regulation in Scotland.^[8]
  • Cockenzie coal-fired power plant closes.^[9]
• 20 March – Peterhead is one of two preferred bidders in a £1,000,000,000 competition to encourage the development of carbon capture and storage technology.^[10]
• 21 March – The date of the Scottish independence referendum is officially announced as Thursday, 18 September 2014.^[11]
• 22 March – Snow and gales blast the West coast of Scotland, plunging about 20,000 homes into darkness.^[12]

April

• 1 April – Police Scotland, a single national police force created by the amalgamation of Scotland's eight police forces into one division, comes into effect.^[13] Likewise united are the eight Fire & Rescue services into the new Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.
• 8 April:
  • Around 300 people gather for an impromptu street party in Glasgow upon hearing the news of the death of former Conservative Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher.^[14]
  • Bill Walker MSP expelled from SNP for allegedly not declaring allegations cited in his uncontested divorce proceedings during the MSP vetting process.^[15] Later in the year, he is convicted of multiple charges of domestic violence.
• 15 April – The Scottish Premier League fails to achieve the 11-1 majority required to agree a new 12-12-18 model for Scottish football after Ross County and St Mirren FC vote against the proposal.^[16]
• 29 April – The tobacco display ban in large shops comes into force.^[17]

May

• 14 May – Launch of Business for Scotland, a pro-independence network of business people campaigning for a "Yes" vote in the 2014 independence referendum.^{[18] [19]}
• 16 May – UKIP leader Nigel Farage is heckled by angry protesters during a campaign visit to Edinburgh.^[20]
• 20 May – The Church of Scotland's ruling General Assembly votes to allow actively gay men and women to become ministers.^[21]
• 24 May – Yes Scotland announces that a total of 372,103 people have signed the Yes Declaration with sixteen months to go until the referendum on Scottish independence.^[22]

June

• 19 June – Hearts FC placed into administration and will start next season in the top flight with a 15-point deduction.^[23]
• 20 June – Aberdeen Donside by-election, held to elect a successor for Brian Adam, who died in April, is won by Mark McDonald of the Scottish National Party.^[24]
• 26 June – The new road bridge across the Firth of Forth is officially named the Queensferry Crossing.
• 27 June – The bill to give sixteen and seventeen-year-olds the right to vote in the Scottish independence referendum is passed by MSPs.^[25]
• 28 June – The Scottish Premier League and the Scottish Football League agree to merge to form the Scottish Professional Football League.^[26]

July

• 7 July – Andy Murray wins the Men's Singles in tennis at Wimbledon 2013 defeating Novak Djokovic of Serbia in straight sets. Murray is the first British man to win the title since Fred Perry in 1936, and the first Scotsman to win since Harold Mahony in 1896.^[27]

August

• 22 August – Yes Scotland is forced to close their computer systems after being hacked by "forces unknown". Police Scotland’s Digital Forensic Unit is investigating.^[28]
• 23 August – A Super Puma L2 helicopter crashes near Sumburgh Airport in the Shetland Islands, resulting in four fatalities. Operation of the helicopter model is globally suspended.^[29]

September

• 20 September – Former Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) Bill Walker sentenced to 12 months in prison for domestic violence.^[30]
• 27 September – UK Prime Minister David Cameron rejects an invitation for a head-to-head televised debate on Scottish independence with Scottish First Minister, Alex Salmond.^[31]

October

• 8 October – The Scottish Government announces that the loss-making Prestwick Airport in Glasgow is to be taken into public ownership.^[32]
• 23 October – Ineos announces that the petrochemical plant at Grangemouth is to close with the loss of about 800 jobs.^[33]

November

• 26 November – First Minister Alex Salmond launches the Scottish Government's White Paper setting out its vision for an independent Scotland.^[34]
• 29 November – A Glasgow police helicopter crashes into The Clutha Vaults pub, causing eight confirmed deaths and thirty-two injuries.^[35]

December

• 15 December – Andy Murray wins BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2013.^[36]

Deaths

• 3 January – Jimmy Halliday, 85, leader of the Scottish National Party from 1956 to 1960,^[37] (born 1927)
• 26 January – Lesley Fitz-Simons, actress (born 1961)
• 8 February – Ian Lister, footballer (born 1948)
• 18 February – Elspet Gray, Scottish actress (born 1929)
• 23 February – Bruce Millan, 85, former Scottish Secretary and European Commissioner^[38] (born 1927)
• 31 March – Helena Carroll, Scottish-American actress (born 1928)
• 25 March – Brian Adam, politician and biochemist (born 1948)^[39]
• 15 May – Billy Raymond, Scottish-Australian television host (b. 1938)
• 31 May – Frederic Lindsay, writer of crime fiction (born 1933)
• 9 June – Iain Banks, author (born 1954)^[40]
• 22 June – Peter Fraser, Baron Fraser of Carmyllie, Conservative MP (1979–87) for Angus (South then East) and advocate (born 1945)^[41]
• 12 August – David McLetchie Leader of Scottish Conservatives 1998–2005 and MSP 1999–2012 (born 1952)^[42]
• 16 August – John Ryden, footballer (born 1931)
• 2 November – Jack Alexander of The Alexander Brothers, folk singer (born 1935)
• 9 November – Helen Eadie, politician (born 1947)^[43]

See also

• 2013 in England
• 2013 in Northern Ireland
• 2013 in Wales

Notes and References

1. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21023913 Gordon Strachan confirmed as Scotland coach
2. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-21101217 Glencoe avalanche: Four dead, say police
3. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-21370601 Glasgow's second Gaelic school to open in Pollokshields area
4. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-21552628 Cardinal Keith O'Brien: 'Allow priests to marry'
5. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21572724 Cardinal Keith O'Brien resigns as Archbishop
6. News: Pope appoints temporary replacement to Cardinal Keith O'Brien . BBC News . BBC . 27 February 2013 . 3 March 2013.
7. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-21591300 Star of Caledonia: Scotland-England landmark plan approved
8. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-21800273 McCluskey Report recommends legal press regulation in Scotland
9. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-21788332 Cockenzie coal-fired power plant closes
10. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-21865798 Carbon capture: Peterhead and Drax preferred bidders in £1bn contest
11. News: Scottish independence: Referendum to be held on 18 September, 2014 . BBC News . BBC . 21 March 2013 . 21 March 2013.
12. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-21934213 Scotland snow: Blackout continues in Arran and Kintyre for 1,650 homes
13. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-21988697 Local policing 'safe' under merger
14. News: Margaret Thatcher dead: Street parties held across the UK to mark passing of PM . Daily Mirror . Daily Mirror . 9 April 2013 . 9 April 2013.
15. News: Abuse claim MSP Bill Walker told to quit Holyrood after being axed by SNP . Scott . McNab . The Scotsman. 9 April 2012 . 21 January 2018.
16. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22151308 SPL fails to vote through 12-12-18 reconstruction plan
17. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-22332048 Tobacco display ban in large shops comes into force
18. http://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/business-for-scotland-independence-group-launches-1-2927647 Business for Scotland independence group launches
19. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-22521342 Scottish referendum: Business leaders join new pro-independence group
20. News: Farage swarmed by angry protesters in Edinburgh . BBC News . BBC . 16 May 2013 . 17 May 2013.
21. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-22580322 Church of Scotland General Assembly votes to allow gay ministers
22. http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/yes-scotland-hail-372000-independence-declaration-signatures.1369394211 Yes Scotland hail 372,000 Independence Declaration signatures
23. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22953448 Hearts placed into administration and deducted 15 points
24. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-22986202 SNP's Mark McDonald wins Aberdeen Donside by-election
25. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-23074572 Scottish independence: Referendum voting age bill approved by MSPs
26. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23079880 The new Scottish Professional Football League survives hitch
27. News: Newbery . Piers . Andy Murray beats Novak Djokovic to win Wimbledon . BBC Sport . BBC . 7 July 2013 . 8 July 2013.
28. http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/top-stories/yes-scotland-close-computer-systems-after-hacking-1-3057019 Yes Scotland close computer systems after hacking
29. News: Shetland helicopter crash: Four dead named . BBC News . BBC . 24 August 2013 . 25 August 2013.
30. News: Bill Walker jailed for 12 months for domestic abuse . BBC News . 20 September 2013.
31. News: Scottish independence: David Cameron will not have TV debate with Alex Salmond . BBC News . BBC . 27 September 2013 . 27 September 2013.
32. News: Glasgow Prestwick Airport to be taken into public ownership . BBC News . BBC . 8 October 2013 . 12 October 2013.
33. News: Grangemouth dispute: Ineos says petrochemical plant will close . BBC News . BBC . 23 October 2013 . 23 October 2013.
34. News: Black . Andrew . Scottish independence: Referendum White Paper unveiled . BBC News . BBC . 26 November 2013 . 27 November 2013.
35. News: Helicopter crashes into Glasgow pub. 29 November 2013. BBC. 29 November 2013.
36. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/sports-personality/25386015 Andy Murray wins BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2013
37. News: Jimmy Halliday: Former SNP leader dies aged 85. 3 January 2013. 3 January 2013. BBC News.
38. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-21558465 Former Scottish Secretary Bruce Millan dies aged 85
39. Web site: Obituary: Brian Adam MSP, politician and biochemist . www.scotsman.com . 25 April 2022 . en.
40. News: Iain Banks dies of cancer aged 59. 9 June 2013. 9 June 2013. BBC News.
41. News: Former Tory MP Lord Fraser dies. 23 June 2013. 9 June 2013. BBC News.
42. News: Former Scottish Conservative leader David McLetchie dies. 12 August 2013. 12 August 2013. BBC News.
43. Web site: Obituary: Helen Eadie, politician . www.scotsman.com . 15 December 2020 . en.