Its creation was somewhat controversial, with Jeremy Paxman describing it as a "damn fool idea" and a "dog’s breakfast",[1] there was also disagreement both inside and outside the organization regarding Scottish withdrawal from BBC as a political stunt.

[2] First broadcast on Monday 4 October 1999, it was originally presented by a team of three; Gordon Brewer, John Milne and Anne Mackenzie.

It reported in great detail about the decisions leading to this, including the competition for Scotland's new parliament.

The series was criticised again in 2008, when Gordon Brewer asserted that a broader view of the news was needed and that it wasn't sufficient to simply "put a kilt" on UK and international stories.

The Newsnight Scotland on-air team at the end of the programme's tenure consisted of the following;