Through its comparatively short life, the Parliament has been tested. What was once an upstart institution, unsure of its place in the world, has now become an ingrained part of the nation's political landscape. Now is an ideal moment to take stock of the Parliament's 20-year history – to investigate its origins, its early days and how it has developed over the past two decades. 

As part of the Scottish Parliament Oral History Project, around 80 interviews were conducted with staff, MSPs and journalists, old and new, about their careers and experiences at the Scottish Parliament. This book compiles extracts from some of these interviews, detailing the institution's rich history. This is the story of the Scottish Parliament so far, telling its story through those who know it best. 

This was history. Substantial powers were being given to Scotland for the first time since 1707. Henry McLeish, Former First Minister

The Scottish Parliament has been utterly transformative. I don't think our predecessors that voted for this Parliament in 1997 could have envisioned the difference it would make to Scottish public life. Humza Yousaf, MSP

I think there was an element of mutual respect, that women were not patronised in the way that they were in Westminster, and that the issues that affected women were put up front right from the start. Fiona Hyslop, MSP