plaque · Edinburgh
Scottish Parliament
This plaque commemorates a significant period in the modern history of Scotland's governance. It marks the location where the Scottish Parliament convened for its initial five years following its establishment. From 1999 to 2004, this site served as the assembly point for the newly reconvened Parliament, playing a foundational role in the country's legislative journey. The plaque stands as a quiet testament to the re-establishment of a devolved Scottish legislature and the early days of its operation, before its move to a purpose-built home. It signifies a pivotal moment in the political landscape of Scotland.
The memorial plaque dates from an era of significant constitutional change within the United Kingdom. The re-establishment of the Scottish Parliament in 1999, after a long period without a devolved legislature, represented a major development in Scottish self-governance. This period saw the creation of new parliamentary constituencies, such as Edinburgh Central, which elected Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) using a specific electoral system. The initial years of the Parliament, as marked by this plaque, were crucial for establishing its procedures and authority within the broader political structure of the UK, laying the groundwork for its ongoing role.
The plaque is located at the Church of Scotland General Assembly Hall on Castle Hill in Edinburgh. Visitors to the historic heart of Edinburgh will find this site, which was home to the Scottish Parliament for its first five years. The setting provides an opportunity to reflect on the historical significance of this building in relation to modern Scottish politics. The General Assembly Hall is situated in a prominent area, easily accessible to those exploring the city's landmarks and historic buildings, and can be viewed respectfully from the exterior.
Inscription
“The Scottish Parliament met here 1999 - 2004”
Background
Edinburgh Central (Gaelic: Dùn Èideann Meadhain) is a burgh constituency of the Scottish Parliament covering part of the council area of Edinburgh. It elects one Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) by the plurality (first past the post) method of election. Under the additional-member electoral system used for elections to the Scottish Parliament, it is also one of nine constituencies in the Edinburgh and Lothians East electoral region, which elects seven additional members, in addition to the nine constituency MSPs, to produce a form of proportional representation for the region as a whole. The constituency was created with the name and boundaries of the Edinburgh Central UK Parliament constituency. Since 1999, the constituency MSP has been an ex officio member of the board of trustees of the National Library of Scotland. From 1925 until 1999, that role had been taken by the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Westminster constituency. It was one of the few areas to vote "Yes" in the 2011 UK Alternative Vote referendum held on the same day as the 2011 Scottish Parliament election. The seat has been held by Lorna Slater of the Scottish Greens since the 2026 Scottish Parliament election.
Source: Open Plaques. Geographic data via OpenStreetMap.