THE National has won the front page of 2020 award with our February splash on the hushed-up McCrone Report.

Media resource Hold the Front Page nominated 12 front pages from UK newspapers published throughout the year before allowing readers to vote for their favourites.

Our McCrone Day front page – which details how UK governments kept a report on Scotland’s oil secret for decades – was announced as the winner this morning with more than half of all voters backing it.

READ MORE: The National nominated for front page of the year in media awards

The 1975 document concluded that the discovery of oil and gas could transform Scotland's economy into one of the most prosperous in Europe, and increase support for independence.

The splash shows a mask dripping with oil and reads: “Scotland’s future was stolen by Westminster”.

The National:

Of the 2300 readers who cast a vote in the annual contest, 1142 gave their support to The National.

Editor Callum Baird welcomed the win this morning. “Every year we publish the secret McCrone Report in full to remind Scots of what they could have had – an oil fund like Norway which has made them one of the richest countries in the world,” he explained.

“Instead, the extent of the wealth in the North Sea was downplayed by Westminster to quash support for independence.

“So it’s no surprise that people continue to respond to this front page, and we thank everybody who voted for us, and everybody who bought a copy.

“Last year on what we call ‘McCrone Day’ we more than tripled our circulation, selling thousands of bulk advance copies which were delivered all over Scotland.”

The National:

Callum Baird pictured with founding editor Richard Walker and the first ever front page of The National (in cake form) in 2019

The coronavirus pandemic has now put into question how we can run a McCrone Day edition next month – Baird said it may need to be “put on hold”.

“But when things clear up again, this special edition will definitely be back,” he pledged.

Damian Shields, The National's deputy picture editor who helped Baird design the award-winning front page, said he "always enjoys" working with the editor to illustrate concepts and welcomed the challenge presented by the report. 

"The McCrone report story headline needed something simple to communicate the 'steal' and I immediately thought of the classic theives mask as a visual," he said. 

"On its own it was too simple so I used photoshop to make it look like it was composed of viscousy oil, giving it a better look that strengthened the connection to the piece.

"Given that oil is reflective, the next creative leap was to layer on Westminster and the rig to complete the final image."

In second place with 569 votes was the Daily Post’s front page detailing how Welsh FM Mark Drakeford was banned from more than 100 pubs on its patch following the announcement of a ban on alcohol sales in hospitality venues.

Meanwhile the Eastern Daily Press came third with its tribute to NHS workers at the start of the coronavirus pandemic.