The campaign of 18 years ago was doomed to fail for various reasons, says Malcolm Dickson

In March 1979, the referendum on a Scottish Parliament took place against a background of political turmoil. The Labour Government had just experienced the ''Winter of Discontent'' and was in its last year of office, struggling on as a minority administration. Not surprisingly the result then, a vote in favour of 51.6% to 48.4% against, was yet another disaster to befall Jim Callaghan's beleaguered administration. The ''40% rule'' meant that the vote failed, as only 32.8% of eligible electors voted for the Scotland Act proposals.

As a result, the SNP withdrew support for Labour in the Commons and a defeat in a vote of no confidence resulted in the May election that propelled Mrs Thatcher to power. Thursday's vote took place in very different circumstances. A Labour administration four months into office and riding high in the polls and with a huge majority of more than 170 in the House of Commons couldn't be further removed from that which put the 1978 Scotland Act before the Scottish people 18 years ago.

In 1979 confusion reigned. There was both intra- and inter-party strife in the campaign. There was no ''umbrella'' Yes campaign as there has been involving Labour, the SNP and the Liberal Democrats this time round. There were ''Yes for Scotland'' and ''Scotland says No'' groupings, but these were recognised campaigning bodies and received no public funding.

Labour ran its own separate campaign, but was hindered by an unofficial Labour Vote No group. There were separate Yes and No campaigns run by both the SNP and the Conservatives. Further, there was even an independent Alliance for an Assembly which was cross-party.

These differences in campaigning show quite clearly the extent to which the devolution debate has moved on since 1979.

Although dissent is still present in all parties, the extent to which it has had an impact this time round is very much smaller than in 1979. Then, Labour was riven by division, now only Tam Dalyell has really put his head on the chopping block. Those within the SNP who have branded devolution as an unacceptable alternative to independence have also been largely quiet.

The result itself is so much clearer as well. This is in part a reflection of the Conservatives' inability to address the constitutional issue over the last 18 years. The writing was on the wall even back in 1979 for the anti-devolution stance of Mrs Thatcher.

An ORC survey for the Scotsman in April 1979 showed that even among those who had voted No the month before only half (51%) wanted to back the status quo. And 60% of respondents in that survey also wanted the Government to come up with new proposals for a parliament. Those voters had to wait 18 years for such an opportunity.

In addition, Scotland itself was divided in 1979. The perceived failures of the 1974-79 Labour Government had considerable impact on the way in which the various geographical interests in Scotland approached the devolution question. The Orkney and Shetland Isles, in conjunction with the rural North-east and the Borders, were very suspicious of potential Central Belt domination and even misrule. In Orkney in 1979, there was a three-to-one vote against the parliament. On Thursday 57% voted in favour. A lot of the fear had been erased with the memories of the 1970s, but these changes also have to do with perhaps the strongest contrast with 1979, and that is the proposed Scottish Parliament itself.

This time a far more powerful and wide-ranging body is proposed. It is not without its defects and unanswered problems, as I have stated in these pages before, but nevertheless, with a tax-varying power and a more proportional electoral system, the meat and bones of devolution look far stronger than they did in 1979.

The 1979 experience was unsatisfactory in so many ways. It was a confused proposal from a dying government. It ended in an unsatisfactory manner with the March referendum. It also remained unfinished business, as the opinion polls, General Elections and the late Labour leader, John Smith, all told us.

Now the current Labour government can begin the process of finishing the business by producing a Bill in the next parliamentary session which will give strength and new purpose to our political life. It may not lead to better government, but least it will mean we will have nobody except ourselves to blame if it goes wrong.

However, it would be foolish to end on a negative note. Thursday's vote was a resounding positive, despite the caveats over turnout. That is perhaps the most telling contrast with 1979, and one which comes from the most important element in the whole process - the Scottish people themselves.

oMalcolm Dickson is lecturer in politics at Strathclyde University.

ABERDEEN CITY

Scottish Parliament: For 65,035 (71.8%)

Against 25,580 (28.2%)

Tax-varying powers: For 54,320 (60.3%)

Against 35,709 (39.7%)

Electorate 169,683; Turnout 91,070 (53.7%)

ABERDEENSHIRE

Scottish Parliament: For 61,621 (63.9%)

Against 34,878 (36.1%)

Tax-varying powers: For 50,295 (52.3%)

Against 45,929 (47.7%)

Electorate 170,310; Turnout 97,036 (57%)

ANGUS

Scottish Parliament: For 33,571 (64.7%)

Against 18,350 (35.3%)

Tax-varying powers: For 27,641 (53.4%)

Against 24,089 (46.6%)

Electorate 86,582; Turnout 52,149 (60.2%)

ARGYLL & BUTE

Scottish Parliament: For 30,452 (67.3%)

Against 14,796 (32.7%)

Tax-varying powers: For 25,746 (57%)

Against 19,429 (43%)

Electorate 69,995; Turnout 45,482 (65%)

CLACKMANNANSHIRE

Scottish Parliament: For 18,790 (80%)

Against 4,706 (20%)

Tax-varying powers: For 16,112 (68.7%)

Against 7,355 (33.3%)

Electorate 35,725; Turnout 23,598 (66.1%)

DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY

Scottish Parliament: For 44,619 (61.7%)

Against 28,863 (39.3%)

Tax-varying powers: For 35,737 (48.8%)

Against 37,499 (51.2%)

Electorate 116,411; Turnout 73,799 (63.4%)

DUNDEE

Scottish Parliament: For 49,252 (76%)

Against 15,553 (24%)

Tax-varying powers: For 42,304 (65.5%)

Against 22,280 (34.5%)

Electorate 117,101; Turnout 65,211 (55.7%)

EAST AYRSHIRE

Scottish Parliament: For 49,131 (81.1%)

Against 11,426 (18.9%)

Tax-varying powers: For 42,559 (70.5%)

Against 17,824 (29.5%)

Electorate 93,958; Turnout 60,884 (64.6%)

EAST DUNBARTONSHIRE

Scottish Parliament: For 40,917 (69.8%)

Against 17,725 (30.2%)

Tax-varying powers: For 34,576 (59.1%)

Against 23,914 (40.9%)

Electorate 81,082; Turnout 59,013 (72.7%)

EAST LOTHIAN

Scottish Parliament: For 33,525 (74.2%)

Against 11,665 (25.8%)

Tax-varying powers: For 28,152 (62.7%)

Against 16,765 (37.3%)

Electorate 69,615; Turnout 45,228 (65%)

EAST RENFREWSHIRE

Scottish Parliament: For 28,253 (61.7%)

Against 17,573 (38.3%)

Tax-varying powers: For 23,580 (51.6%)

Against 22,153 (48.4%)

Electorate 67,363; Turnout 45,926 (68.2%)

EDINBURGH

Scottish Parliament: For 155,900 (71.9%)

Against 60,832 (28.1%)

Tax-varying powers: For 133,843 (62%)

Against 82,188 (38%)

Electorate 362,245; Turnout 217,579 (60.1%)

FALKIRK

Scottish Parliament: For 55,642 (80%)

Against 13,953 (20%)

Tax-varying powers: For 48,064 (69.2%)

Against 21,403 (30.8%)

Electorate 109,723; Turnout 69,937 (63.7%)

FIFE

Scottish Parliament: For 125,668 (76.1%)

Against 39,517 (23.9%)

Tax-varying powers: For 108,021 (64.7%)

Against 58,987 (35.3%)

Electorate 274,384; Turnout 166,554 (60.7%)

GLASGOW

Scottish Parliament: For 204,269 (83.6%)

Against 40,106 (16.4%)

Tax-varying powers: For 182,589 (75%)

Against 60,842 (25%)

Electorate 476,886; Turnout 246,284 (51.6%)

HIGHLAND

Scottish Parliament: For 72,551 (72.5%)

Against 27,431 (27.5%)

Tax-varying powers: For 61,359 (62%)

Against 37,525 (38%)

Electorate 165,751; Turnout 99,982 (60.3%)

INVERCLYDE

Scottish Parliament: For 31,680 (78%)

Against 8,945 (22%)

Tax-varying powers: For 27,194 (67.2%)

Against 13,277 (32.8%)

Electorate 67,660; Turnout 40,890 (60.4%)

MIDLOTHIAN

Scottish Parliament: For 31,681 (79.9%)

Against 7,979 (20.1%)

Tax-varying powers: For 26,776 (67.7%)

Against 12.762 (32.3%)

Electorate 61,135; Turnout 39,827 (65.1%)

MORAY

Scottish Parliament: For 24,822 (67.2%)

Against 12,122 (32.8%)

Tax-varying powers: For 19,326 (52.7%)

Against 17,344 (47.3%)

Electorate 64,235; Turnout 37,124 (57.8%)

NORTH AYRSHIRE

Scottish Parliament: For 51,304 (76.3%)

Against 15,931 (23.7%)

Tax-varying powers: For 43,990 (65.7%)

Against 22,991 (34.3%)

Electorate 106,511; Turnout 67,562 (63.4%)

NORTH LANARKSHIRE

Scottish Parliament: For 123,063 (82.6%)

Against 26,010 (17.4%)

Tax-varying powers: For 107,288 (72.2%)

Against 41,372 (27.8%)

Electorate 246,704; Turnout 149,956 (60.8%)

ORKNEY

Scottish Parliament: For 4,749 (57.3%)

Against 3,541 (42.7%)

Tax-varying powers: For 3,917 (47.4%)

Against 4,344 (52.6%)

Electorate 15,579; Turnout 8,328 (53.5%)

PERTH & KINROSS

Scottish Parliament: For 40,344 (61.7%)

Against 24,998 (38.3%)

Tax-varying powers: For 33,398 (51.3%)

Against 31,709 (48.7%)

Electorate 104,138; Turnout 65,667 (63.1%)

RENFREWSHIRE

Scottish Parliament: For 68,711 (79%)

Against 18,213 (21%)

Tax-varying powers: For 55,075 (63.6%)

Against 31,537 (36.4%)

Electorate 139,269; Turnout 87,400 (62.8%)

SCOTTISH BORDERS

Scottish Parliament: For 33,855 (62.8%)

Against 20,060 (37.2%)

Tax-varying powers: For 27,284 (50.7%)

Against 26,497 (49.3%)

Electorate 83,674; Turnout 54,181 (64.8%)

SHETLAND

Scottish Parliament: For 5,430 (62.4%)

Against 3,275 (37.6%)

Tax-varying powers: For 4,478 (51.6%)

Against 4,198 (48.4%)

Electorate 16,561; Turnout 8,736 (51.5%)

SOUTH AYRSHIRE

Scottish Parliament: For 40,161 (66.9%)

Against 19,909 (33.1%)

Tax-varying powers: For 33,679 (56.2%)

Against 26,217 (43.8%)

Electorate 90,433; Turnout 60,303 (66.7%)

SOUTH LANARKSHIRE

Scottish Parliament: For 114,908 (77.8%)

Against 32,762 (22.2%)

Tax-varying powers: For 99,587 (67.6%)

Against 47,708 (32.4%)

Electorate 235,108; Turnout 148,257 (63.1%)

STIRLING

Scottish Parliament: For 29,190 (68.5%)

Against 13,440 (31.5%)

Tax-varying powers: For 25,044 (58.9%)

Against 17,487 (41.1%)

Electorate 65,075; Turnout 42,797 (65.8%)

WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE

Scottish Parliament: For 39,051 (84.7%)

Against 7,058 (15.3%)

Tax-varying powers: For 34,408 (74.7%)

Against 11,628 (25.3%)

Electorate 72,744; Turnout 46,347 (63.7%)

WEST LOTHIAN

Scottish Parliament: For 56,923 (79.6%)

Against 14,614 (20.4%)

Tax-varying powers: For 47,990 (67.3%)

Against 23,354 (32.7%)

Electorate 114,836; Turnout 71,884 (62.6%)

WESTERN ISLES

Scottish Parliament: For 9,977 (79.4%)

Against 2,589 (20.6%)

Tax-varying powers: For 8,557 (68.4%)

Against 3,947 (31.6%)

Electorate 22,733; Turnout 12,676 (55.8%)