McCrone report
Encyclopedia
The McCrone report was a dossier written in 1974 by Professor Gavin McCrone, a leading government economist, for the Conservative
UK government into the viability of an independent Scotland
.
The report concluded that North sea oil
revenue would have given an independent Scotland one of the strongest currencies in Europe and a large tax surplus. It went on to say that officials advised government ministers on how to take "the wind out of the SNP
sails". The incoming Labour
administration classified the document as secret over fears it could give a further boost to the SNP's policy of Scottish independence.
The dossier came to light in 2005 when the SNP obtained the report under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
. The full provisions of the Act came into force on 1st January 2005.
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
UK government into the viability of an independent Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.
The report concluded that North sea oil
North Sea oil
North Sea oil is a mixture of hydrocarbons, comprising liquid oil and natural gas, produced from oil reservoirs beneath the North Sea.In the oil industry, the term "North Sea" often includes areas such as the Norwegian Sea and the area known as "West of Shetland", "the Atlantic Frontier" or "the...
revenue would have given an independent Scotland one of the strongest currencies in Europe and a large tax surplus. It went on to say that officials advised government ministers on how to take "the wind out of the SNP
Scottish National Party
The Scottish National Party is a social-democratic political party in Scotland which campaigns for Scottish independence from the United Kingdom....
sails". The incoming Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
administration classified the document as secret over fears it could give a further boost to the SNP's policy of Scottish independence.
The dossier came to light in 2005 when the SNP obtained the report under the Freedom of Information Act 2000
Freedom of Information Act 2000
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 is an Act of Parliament of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that creates a public "right of access" to information held by public authorities. It is the implementation of freedom of information legislation in the United Kingdom on a national level...
. The full provisions of the Act came into force on 1st January 2005.
External Links
- Original "TOP SECRET" stamped McCrone Report, published 1975
- Searchable re-typed version of the McCrone Report, including Cover Letter
- How black gold was hijacked: North sea oil and the betrayal of Scotland Independent.co.uk, Friday December 9th, 2005]