The Result

City of Edinburgh

Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland and is the country's second largest city. The castle, St Giles Cathedral, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and the famous international festival all attract tourists to the city. Tourism is big business, although light and service industries are also important to the capital's economy. The unitary authority also covers some of the areas to the south and west of the city itself including the prosperous towns of Cramond and Queensferry. Edinburgh is quite a middle-class city, but it is not without its problem areas. The council schemes on the edges of the city, such as Wester Hailes have high levels of unemployment and drug abuse.

The middle-class character of the city means that the Conservatives have done better here in the past then in most other areas of the central belt. Before the last general election two of the cities' six parliamentary constituencies were held by Conservative ministers. Now five of the seats are held by Labour, and one by the Liberal Democrats. Labour also controls the council, although this is not a Labour heartland in the way that Glasgow is.

Results of 1979 referendum:

ICM/Scotsman poll published on 22 August 1997:

		Yes		No		Don't know
All Scotland		68%		21%		11%
Lothian, Fife and Central		68%		25%		7%

Question:Should a Scottish Parliament have tax-varying powers?

		Yes		No		Don't know
All Scotland		56%		36%		8%
Lothian, Fife and Central		57%		40%		3%

(Total Sample Size: 1,001, Fieldwork: 19-20 August 1997)