Scottish Election: SNP on course for victory as results continue

The SNP is on course to become the largest party in Holyrood once again – but without a parliamentary majority.

John Swinney had aimed for 65 seats or more and pinned his independence hopes on that.

But with almost all constituencies now declared and regions still to come, it appears the party can achieve minority government at best.

The SNP has won as many as 55 seats so far, winning Shetland from the Liberal Democrats for the first time and re-taking the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse seat it lost to Labour's Davy Russell in a by-election last year that was widely interpreted as a sign that the party's grip on Bute House was about to come to an end.

But it has also suffered losses, with the Western Isles going to Labour, Strathkelvin and Bearsden won by the Lib Dems, and Angus Robertson losing to Lorna Slater of the Scottish Greens in Edinburgh Central.

And while Anas Sarwar conceded that Labour had lost the election early in the day, there was some relief in Dumbarton, where deputy leader Jackie Baillie doubled her majority to around 2,000 votes.

Kaukab Stewart lost her bid for Nicola Sturgeon’s vacant Glasgow Southside seat, which went to local Green councillor Holly Bruce.

It is the first time the Scottish Greens have won constituencies, while Reform UK has so far been unable to achieve the same feat.

With some results still to come, the Lib Dems are currently the second largest party on five seats, followed by the Tories on four, Labour on three and the Greens on two.

The SNP has continued its dominance in “Yes city” Dundee, where it held both city seats, and seen its Westminster leader Stephen Flynn win entry to the Scottish Parliament in Aberdeen Deeside and North Kincardine.

And its performance comes after almost 20 years in power, and following an election in which its record in government came under question.

Polls suggested the party was on track to become the biggest party and Swinney's confidence was clear early in the day, when he said he was “absolutely certain the SNP is going to be the leading party coming out of this election”.

It is the first Scottish Parliament election Swinney has fought since taking over as leader of his party in 2024. That move came just a few short weeks before the 2024 general election, in which the SNP's formidable MP group was reduced to just nine.

Succeeding Humza Yousaf as the third SNP first minister of the last parliamentary term, Swinney promised to unify his warring party and return government focus to delivery. 

Commenting on the results as they unfolded, he said the were “a reflection of the work that we’ve undertaken to rebuild public confidence and trust in the SNP”. 

Reform UK's Scottish leader Malcolm Offord expressed disappointment that his party had not secured a constituency seat. Offord stood in Inverclyde, which was held by the SNP's Stuart McMillan, who is also the Scottish Parliament piper.