Nicola Sturgeon wins ‘historic’ third term for the SNP in Scottish Parliament election

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has claimed victory in the Scottish Parliament election ahead of the final results being announced on the regional lists.

“We have made history” she told supporters as it became clear the SNP would form the new government in Scotland for an unprecedented third time.

Speaking at her victory in Glasgow Southside, Sturgeon said: “We have tonight made history. It is a vote of confidence of in the record in government of the SNP and it is a vote of trust in the SNP to lead our country forward. We in the SNP will always stand up for Scotland. And tonight Scotland has stood with us.

“In closing tonight, I want to make a pledge to every single person in our country. To seek and to win a mandate and the first minister of our country is a special and very precious thing.

“I pledge that I will govern in the interest of everyone, of every person in Scotland and every community the length and breadth of our country. I want to thank people across our country, those who voted SNP, those who did not vote SNP and say very clearly, that I will lead this country with confidence, courage, with ambition, with imagination.

“I have nothing but confidence in this great country of ours. It will be my honour to lead it and I will always do it to the very best of my ability.”

The party won all constituency seats in Glasgow with Labour’s share of the vote dropping significantly.

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“We're not so much beating Labour as replacing them. At this stage I'm expecting a very good night,” Sturgeon said as the city's results came in.

Labour’s Ken Macintosh, who lost his Eastwood seat to Conservative Jackson Carlaw, said: “The Labour party has had a very difficult time since the referendum. I think we are starting to win the arguments but we aren't winning the votes.”

But the SNP suffered losses elsewhere. Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie took North East Fife and Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson took Edinburgh Central on what was a very good night for her party.

As the results came in, the SNP looked less likely to achieve an overall majority due to not picking up seats on the regional lists.

"It was always going to be a big ask to get another overall majority" Sturgeon told the BBC.

Pollster John Curtice told the BBC: “It now looks as though the SNP are at risk of failing to secure a second overall majority in the Holyrood Parliament and will have to form a minority administration doubtless with the support of the Greens.”

This is the fifth Scottish Parliament election since it was reestablished in 1999.