2006 in Scotland
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2016}}
{{Year in Scotland| 2006 }}
Events from the year 2006 in Scotland.
Incumbents
{{further|Politics of Scotland|Order of precedence in Scotland}}
- First Minister and Keeper of the Great Seal – Jack McConnell{{cite web|title=Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale|url=https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/lords/lord-mcconnell-of-glenscorrodale/4168|website=UK Parliament|access-date=23 February 2018|language=en}}
- Secretary of State for Scotland – Alistair Darling until 5 May; then Douglas Alexander{{cite book|last1=Committee|first1=Great Britain Parliament House of Commons Scottish Affairs|title=Experience of the Scottish Elections: Fifth Report of Session 2007-08 : Report, Together with Formal Minutes, Oral and Written Evidence|date=2008|publisher=The Stationery Office|isbn=9780215520463|page=81|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pJMqGdX3Dz4C&pg=PA81|language=en}}
= Law officers =
- Lord Advocate – Lord Boyd of Duncansby; then Elish Angiolini{{cite web|last1=Carrell|first1=Severin|title=The Guardian profile: Scotland's first woman lord advocate Elish Angiolini|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/oct/06/uk.scotland1|website=the Guardian|access-date=23 February 2018|language=en|date=5 October 2006}}
- Solicitor General for Scotland – Elish Angiolini; then John Beckett{{cite web|title=Former Solicitor General to be floating sheriff|url=http://www.journalonline.co.uk/News/1005190.aspx#.WpAHERmnyk4|website=www.journalonline.co.uk|access-date=23 February 2018|language=en}}
- Advocate General for Scotland – Lynda Clark;{{cite web|title=Baroness Clark of Calton|url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/lords/baroness-clark-of-calton/599|website=UK Parliament|access-date=23 February 2018|language=en}} then Lord Davidson of Glen Clova{{cite web|title=Scottish Advocate Lord Davidson peerage|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/scottish-advocate-lord-davidson-peerage-1-487882|website=Scotsman|access-date=23 February 2018|language=en}}
= Judiciary =
- Lord President of the Court of Session and Lord Justice General – Lord Hamilton{{cite web|title=Lord Hamilton to Retire|url=http://www.scotland-judiciary.org.uk/24/800/Lord-Hamilton-to-Retire|website=www.scotland-judiciary.org.uk|access-date=23 February 2018|archive-date=23 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223232343/http://www.scotland-judiciary.org.uk/24/800/Lord-Hamilton-to-Retire|url-status=dead}}
- Lord Justice Clerk – Lord Gill{{cite web|title=Scotland's senior judge to retire|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-32623218|website=BBC News|access-date=23 February 2018|date=7 May 2015}}
- Chairman of the Scottish Land Court – Lord McGhie{{cite web|title=Legal grounds: call the Scottish Land Court …|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/legal-grounds-call-the-scottish-land-court-1-2223841|website=www.scotsman.com|access-date=23 February 2018|language=en}}
Events
= January =
- 1 January – Transport Scotland begins operations as an agency of the Scottish Executive.{{cite web|title=Transport Scotland|url=http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2005/11/24155349/53498|website=Scottish Government|access-date=2018-02-23|date=2005-11-29|archive-date=24 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224053108/http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2005/11/24155349/53498|url-status=dead}}[http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/about-us/corporate-reports/j7641-01.htm Transport Scotland Freedom of Information (FoI) Publication Scheme] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120805193229/http://www.transportscotland.gov.uk/about-us/corporate-reports/j7641-01.htm|date=5 August 2012}} www.transportscotland.gov.uk, accessed 26 September 2011
- 7 January – Charles Kennedy, leader of the Liberal Democrats resigns after revelations that he has a drinking problem.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4590688.stm Embattled Kennedy quits as leader.] BBC News, 7 January 2006
= February =
- 9 February – Dunfermline and West Fife by-election: Willie Rennie of the Liberal Democrats is the winner.{{cite web|last1=Branigan|first1=Tania|title=Lib Dems stun Labour in byelection triumph|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2006/feb/10/uk.byelections|website=the Guardian|access-date=23 February 2018|language=en|date=10 February 2006}}
= March =
- 2 March
- Sir Menzies Campbell is elected leader of the Liberal Democrats following an election caused by the resignation of Charles Kennedy.{{cite web|title=Support for new Lib Dems leader|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4768088.stm|website=BBC News|access-date=23 February 2018|date=2 March 2006}}
- Four people are injured in an explosion in a GlaxoSmithKline factory in Irvine, North Ayrshire.{{cite web|title=Four in hospital after drug factory blast|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/four-in-hospital-after-drug-factory-blast-468336.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/four-in-hospital-after-drug-factory-blast-468336.html |archive-date=1 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|website=The Independent|access-date=23 February 2018|date=2 March 2006}}{{cbignore}}
- 15–26 March – Scotland at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.{{cite web|title=2006 Commonwealth teams list|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/commonwealth_games/4694548.stm|website=BBC Sport|access-date=23 February 2018|date=21 February 2006}}
- 26 March – Scottish public smoking ban comes into effect under the conditions of the Smoking, Health and Social Care Act (Scotland) 2005, banning people from smoking indoors in public places like restaurants, pubs and cafes; the first region of the UK to prohibit smoking inside public buildings.
- 28 March – Royal Regiment of Scotland created;{{cite web|title=Regiment awarded freedom of city|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-17313686|website=BBC News|access-date=23 February 2018|date=10 March 2012}}{{cite web|title=Royal Regiment of Scotland|url=https://www.army.mod.uk/who-we-are/corps-regiments-and-units/infantry/royal-regiment-of-scotland/|website=www.army.mod.uk|access-date=23 February 2018}} King's Own Scottish Borderers{{cite web|title=The National Archives|url=http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/2188cad6-858f-4f86-b350-a608ac795618|website=discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk|access-date=23 February 2018}} and The Royal Scots{{cite web|title=History - The Royal Scots|url=http://www.theroyalscots.co.uk/history/|website=www.theroyalscots.co.uk|access-date=23 February 2018}} disbanded.
= April =
- 27 April – Moray by-election: Richard Lochhead holds the seat in the Scottish Parliament for the Scottish National Party.[http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/snp-sweeps-to-v-ictory-in-by-election-moray-majority-rises-as-tory-hopes-dashed-1.21919 SNP sweeps to v ictory in by-election Moray majority rises as Tory hopes dashed] www.heraldscotland.com, 28 April 2006
= May =
- 30 May – Scottish TV and Grampian TV both relaunched under the new name of STV.{{cite web|last1=Holmwood|first1=Leigh|title=Grampian TV brand consigned to history|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/may/30/marketingandpr.broadcasting|website=the Guardian|access-date=23 February 2018|language=en|date=30 May 2006}}
= July =
- 4 July – Sheridan v News Group Newspapers Ltd: Scottish Socialist Party MSP Tommy Sheridan begins an action for defamation against the News of the World at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.{{cite web|title=Thomas Sheridan Against News Group Newspapers Limited|url=https://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/search-judgments/judgment?id=36331ca7-8980-69d2-b500-ff0000d74aa7|website=www.scotcourts.gov.uk|access-date=2018-02-23}} Sheridan's case is upheld but he is later prosecuted for perjury.
= August =
- 21 August – the first modern solely Gaelic-medium school to offer secondary education, Sgoil Ghàidhlig Ghlaschu, is opened at Woodside in Glasgow.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/5267212.stm Opening day for new Gaelic school] BBC News, 21 August 2006
- Scotland's first offshore wind turbine is installed in the Beatrice Wind Farm, 24 km (15 mi; 13 nmi) offshore in the Moray Firth.{{cite web|title=Wind turbine floated to deepwater|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/5264364.stm|website=BBC News|access-date=23 February 2018|date=21 August 2006}}
- The Scottish crossbill is finally confirmed as a unique species.[http://www.rspb.org.uk/scotland/action/endemiccrossbill.asp "Status of 'UK's only endemic bird species' confirmed"], RSPB Scotland
= September =
- 3 September – establishment of Solidarity – Scotland's Socialist Movement, a breakaway from the Scottish Socialist Party.{{cite web|title=New socialist party launched in Scotland|url=http://m.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/453/5435/07-09-2006/new-socialist-party-launched-in-scotland|website=The Socialist|access-date=23 February 2018}}
- 18 September – the Clyde Arc, a pedestrian/cycle bridge over the River Clyde at Finnieston, is officially opened.{{cite web|title='Squinty' bridge open to vehicles|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/5355142.stm|website=BBC News|access-date=23 February 2018|date=18 September 2006}}
= October =
- 5 October – Rt. Hon. Elish Angiolini, QC, appointed as Lord Advocate. She is the first woman, first procurator fiscal, and the first solicitor to be appointed to the post.
- 11–13 October – multi-party political talks on Northern Ireland are held in St Andrews, resulting in the St Andrews Agreement.{{cite web|title=The St Andrews Agreement, October 2006 - GOV.UK|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-st-andrews-agreement-october-2006|website=gov.uk|access-date=23 February 2018|language=en}}
= November =
- 8 November – three men of Pakistani origin sentenced to life imprisonment for the racist murder of Kriss Donald in Glasgow.{{cite web|title=Trio jailed for Kriss race murder|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/6123014.stm|website=BBC News|access-date=23 February 2018|date=8 November 2006}}
- 25–26 November – Aberdeen Cup tennis tournament.{{Cite web |url=http://www.aecc.co.uk/aberdeencup2006.aspx|title=Aberdeen Cup 2006 |access-date=2 September 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060829144515/http://www.aecc.co.uk/aberdeencup2006.aspx |archive-date=29 August 2006 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}
- 30 November – residents of Benbecula take control of a large part of the island in a community buy-out.{{cite web|title=Land buyout reality for islanders|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/6195966.stm|website=BBC News|access-date=23 February 2018|date=30 November 2006}}
= Undated =
- A fossil pterosaur found on the Isle of Skye is revealed in 2024 to be a species new to paleontology.{{cite web|title=New pterosaur from Skye reveals the hidden diversity of the Middle Jurassic|first=James|last=Ashworth|date=2024-02-06|url=https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2024/february/new-pterosaur-skye-reveals-hidden-diversity-middle-jurassic.html|publisher=Natural History Museum, London|accessdate=2024-02-06}}
Deaths
- 5 January – Rachel Squire, Labour MP (born 1954){{cite web|last1=White|first1=Michael|title=Obituary: Rachel Squire|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2006/jan/09/guardianobituaries.obituaries|website=the Guardian|access-date=23 February 2018|language=en|date=9 January 2006}}
- 31 January – Moira Shearer, ballet dancer and actress (born 1926){{cite web|last1=Clarke|first1=Mary|title=Obituary: Moira Shearer|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2006/feb/02/guardianobituaries.filmnews|website=the Guardian|access-date=23 February 2018|language=en|date=2 February 2006}}
- 9 February – Ena Lamont Stewart, playwright (born 1912){{cite web|title=Ena Lamont Stewart|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/obituaries/ena-lamont-stewart-1-1106471|website=Scotsman|access-date=23 February 2018|language=en}}
- 10 February – John Prentice, football player and manager (born 1926){{cite web|title=Ex-Scotland manager Prentice dies|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/4701398.stm|website=BBC News|access-date=23 February 2018|date=10 February 2006}}
- 28 February – Hugh McCartney, Labour MP (born 1920){{cite web|title=Hugh McCartney|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/hugh-mccartney-rzsd8rhkzpk|website=The Times|access-date=23 February 2018|language=en|date=3 March 2006}}
- 3 March – Ivor Cutler, poet, songwriter and humourist (born 1923){{cite web|last1=Espiner|first1=Mark|title=Obituary: Ivor Cutler|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2006/mar/07/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries|website=the Guardian|access-date=23 February 2018|language=en|date=7 March 2006}}
- 12 March – Jimmy Johnstone, footballer; member of the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame (born 1944){{cite web|last1=Glanville|first1=Brian|title=Obituary: Jimmy Johnstone|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2006/mar/14/guardianobituaries.football|website=the Guardian|access-date=23 February 2018|language=en|date=14 March 2006}}
- 21 March – Margaret Ewing, Scottish National Party MSP and former MP (born 1945){{cite web|last1=Wilson|first1=Brian|title=Obituary: Margaret Ewing|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2006/mar/23/guardianobituaries.obituaries|website=the Guardian|access-date=23 February 2018|language=en|date=23 March 2006}}
- 27 March – Ian Hamilton Finlay, writer, artist and gardener (born 1925){{cite web|title=Ian Hamilton Finlay 1925-2006|url=http://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/ian-hamilton-finlay-1093|website=Tate|access-date=23 February 2018}}
- 9 April – Robin Orr, composer (born 1909){{cite web|last1=McDonald|first1=Tim|title=Obituary: Robin Orr|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2006/apr/14/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries|website=the Guardian|access-date=23 February 2018|language=en|date=14 April 2006}}
- 13 April – Muriel Spark, novelist (born 1918){{cite web|last1=Turner|first1=Jenny|title=Obituary: Dame Muriel Spark|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2006/apr/17/guardianobituaries.booksobituaries|website=the Guardian|access-date=23 February 2018|language=en|date=17 April 2006}}
- 15 April – Calum Kennedy, singer (born 1928){{cite web|last1=Wilson|first1=Brian|title=Obituary: Calum Kennedy|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2006/apr/22/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries|website=the Guardian|access-date=23 February 2018|language=en|date=21 April 2006}}
- 8 May – Iain Macmillan, photographer and author (born 1938){{cite web|title=Iain MacMillan|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/obituaries/iain-macmillan-1-1118391|website=Scotsman|access-date=23 February 2018|language=en}}
- 17 May – Eric Forth, Conservative MP (born 1944){{cite web|last1=White|first1=Michael|last2=Roth|first2=Andrew|title=Obituary: Eric Forth|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2006/may/19/guardianobituaries.conservatives|website=the Guardian|access-date=24 February 2018|language=en|date=18 May 2006}}
- 6 July – Tom Weir, climber, author and broadcaster (born 1914){{cite web|title=Tom Weir: Biography on Undiscovered Scotland|url=https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/usbiography/w/tomweir.html|website=www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk|access-date=24 February 2018}}
- 30 August – Hector Monro, Baron Monro of Langholm, Conservative and Unionist MP (born 1922){{cite web|title=Lord Monro obituary|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/1527624/Lord-Monro.html|website=The Telegraph|access-date=24 February 2018|date=30 August 2006}}
- 15 September – Douglas Henderson, Scottish National Party MP (born 1935){{cite web|last1=Wilson|first1=Brian|title=Obituary: Douglas Henderson|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2006/sep/26/guardianobituaries.obituaries1|website=the Guardian|access-date=24 February 2018|language=en|date=25 September 2006}}
- 3 October – Lucilla Andrews, romantic novelist (born 1919 in Egypt){{cite web|title=Lucilla Andrews|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/lucilla-andrews-421771.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/lucilla-andrews-421771.html |archive-date=1 May 2022 |url-access=subscription|website=The Independent|access-date=24 February 2018|date=27 October 2006}}{{cbignore}}
Arts
- February – National Theatre of Scotland established as a peripatetic company.{{cite web|title=National Theatre of Scotland|url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2008/feb/27/nationaltheatreofscotland|website=the Guardian|access-date=23 February 2018|language=en|date=27 February 2008}}
- 1 August – Gregory Burke's play Black Watch is first performed, by the National Theatre of Scotland at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe'.
- Hamish MacDonald self-publishes The Willies and Idea in Stone.{{cite web|title=Hamish MacDonald: Books, Biography, Blogs, Audiobooks, Kindle|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hamish-MacDonald/e/B0034Q9E2W|website=www.amazon.co.uk|access-date=23 February 2018}}
- James Robertson publishes The Testament of Gideon Mack.
See also
{{Portal|Scotland|Current events}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{Years in Scotland |state=collapsed}}