25 January – Scotland's First Minister, Alex Salmond, sets out the question – "Do you agree that Scotland should be an independent country?" – that he intends to ask voters in the 2014 referendum.[6]
3 May – Scottish local elections held across all 32 local authorities result in the SNP making 61 gains and winning the largest number of councillors in Scotland, as well as gaining control of Dundee and Angus. Labour makes 48 gains and gains control of West Dunbartonshire and Renfrewshire. The Liberal Democrats lose over half of their councillors allowing the Conservatives, who also lose councillors, to end the day as the third-largest party in local government.[18]
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^"Committee on the West Lothian Question". The Scotsman. 30 December 2011.[dead link]
^"Scots referendum question set out". BBC News. BBC. 25 January 2012. Retrieved 25 January 2012. The question actually asked differs.
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^"Perth wins Diamond Jubilee contest to be named seventh Scottish city". BBC News. BBC. 14 March 2012. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
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^Ross, David (28 March 2012). "Unions call for more rigs to be evacuated". The Herald. Glasgow. Retrieved 28 March 2012.
^Brocklehurst, Steven (18 April 2012). "Filming in court 'not precedent'". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 18 April 2012.
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^"'Cursing stone' found on Isle of Canna". BBC News. Retrieved 20 May 2012.
^Scottish independence: One million Scots urged to sign 'yes' declaration BBC News, 25 May 2012
^Rangers creditors formally reject CVA proposal BBC News, 14 June 2012
^Scottish independence: Alistair Darling warns of 'no way back' BBC News, 25 June 2012
^Rangers newco refused SPL entry after chairmen vote. BBC News 4 July
^Black, Andrew (15 October 2012). "Scottish independence: Cameron and Salmond strike referendum deal". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 15 October 2012.
^Met Office: 2012 was UK's second wettest year on record bbc.co.uk, 3 January 2013
^From Greenock to glory: Scot in Super Bowl joy heraldscotland.com, accessed 24 January 2012
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^Ornstein, David (6 July 2012). "Wimbledon 2012: Andy Murray beats Tsonga to reach final". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
^Ornstein, David (8 July 2012). "Wimbledon 2012: Andy Murray beaten by Roger Federer in final". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 10 July 2012.
^"Andy Murray wins men's singles Olympics tennis gold". BBC Sport. BBC. 5 August 2012. Retrieved 5 August 2012.
^"Murray ends Britain's Grand Slam skid". USA Today. 11 September 2012. p. 1C.
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^"Cromarty fisherfolk dialect's last native speaker dies". BBC News. 2 October 2012. Retrieved 2 October 2012.
^Ross, David (2 October 2012). "Dialect's demise as final speaker dies at 92". Herald Scotland. Retrieved 2 October 2012.