He told BBC Scotland's Big Debate programme: "The question of the independent Labour Party I support.

Image source, SNS

"I don't see why we shouldn't be a federal part of the United Kingdom.

"We in Scotland should be an independent Labour Party - be able to have nationality, sentiment, identity.

"We are all proud Scots no matter what the party is. It is high time Labour was saying to itself 'we can put Scotland first and we can also help out at London'.

A Downing Street spokesman said Scotland's first minister in-turn congratulated the prime minister on the gains made by his party in Scotland.

Image source, EPA

The two leaders also agreed to work together constructively in the short term on the future of the steel industry, he added.

The prime minister paid tribute to Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson, who now leads the largest opposition party at Holyrood "for the first time in a very long time".

He said if someone had told him when he became prime minister six years ago that the Conservatives would become the second largest party in Scotland, he would have told them "to go away and lie down".

The Scottish Conservatives have seen the number of seats won at Holyrood jump to 31 from 15 in 2011.

The Liberal Democrats finished fifth behind the Scottish Greens, who won six Holyrood seats.

The SNP took 63 seats - two short of a majority. The Conservatives have 31 and Labour 24.

Mr Rennie, who took the Fife North East seat from the SNP, said the results defied pre-election claims of a Lib Dem "wipe-out".

Full story here.

At 34.9%, that is the same number returned in 2011 and is well below the 52% needed to reflect the Scottish population.

The SNP have 27 female MSPs, with Labour on 11, the Conservatives on six and the Greens on one.

Image source, Reuters

A record 48 women were elected in the first election to the new Scottish Parliament in 1999.

BBC Radio Scotland

On today's panel answering your questions are; Labour MSP James Kelly, Ross Greer - Green MSP, Michael Keating - a political analyst from Aberdeen University, Conservative MSP Jackson Carlaw and SNP MP Patrick Grady.

Listen to the programme live here.

Alex Rowley said his party had "put forward a very positive agenda" when campaigning in the Scottish Parliament elections but "did not persuade enough people up and down the country".

Image source, AFP/Getty

He insisted it was "bold" of leader Kezia Dugdale to focus on economic issues such as taxation rather than independence - but "it's evidently clear that... the constitution is a big issue".

He rejected the accusation that Labour were "red Tories" - which has been levelled by some independence supporters - arguing that Labour opposed austerity and cuts in Scotland.

On the Labour leadership, he said that "Jeremy Corbyn, I think, is a breath of fresh air" but Labour should be autonomous in Scotland and "Kezia Dugdale is our leader".

In an interview with Dermot Murnaghan on Sky News, Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale said: "Politics in Scotland has fundamentally changed since the referendum. 

Image source, PA

"But Scottish Labour still has to appeal to voters who voted both yes and no - and that's what we are trying to do."  

Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

Interviewed by Nick Robinson on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Tom Watson said it was a "mixed picture" for Labour in elections across the UK. 

"Obviously we are all very disappointed for our colleagues who lost their seats in Scotland," he said. 

Image source, PA

"I think our leader in Scotland, Kezia Dugdale, has carried a very heavy load but I think most people would recognise that after that near knock-out blow at the general election, Labour was not going to leap back to power in Scotland overnight. 

"There is a long journey back to win back hearts and minds in Scotland."

Image source, EPA

The UK Labour leader said: "Well done on the campaign you fought, well done on the determination you have shown.

"There is a lot of building to do in Scotland. We are going to be with you, we're going to walk hand in hand with the party in Scotland to build that support once again, so the Labour tradition in Scotland will be re-established once again. I am sure I can send a message on behalf of everybody here, to our colleagues in Scotland - we are with you".

His comments come after the party lost 13 seats in the election.

"I think our party's success is in not fluctuating in our commitment to stay part of the United Kingdom," she said.

Image source, PA

"Labour were all over the place on that during the campaign, as were the Liberal Democrats to an extent. 

"Also focusing thereafter on the policies that matter to people in Scotland for hardworking families."

Giancarlo Rinaldi
South Scotland reporter, BBC news website

Regions which have returned candidates from all four major political parties to Holyrood and Westminster in the past gave the Conservatives a big thumbs up in the constituency vote.

It was perhaps no shock that John Lamont defended a large majority but the scale of his victory was still impressive.

Image source, bbc

More surprising, however, were Finlay Carson's defence of Alex Fergusson's seat and Oliver Mundell's success - both in constituencies the SNP had high hopes of taking.

There was plenty of consolation for the Nationalists, of course, with Christine Grahame's triumph and three list MSPs.

Labour also grabbed two south of Scotland regional seats but there were two more for the Conservatives completing a memorable night for the party.

The Lib Dems, once a major force in the Borders, were completely locked out.

The Greens picked up six seats in the new Scottish Parliament, with the Lib Dems one behind on five.

Victorious Green Ross Greer has become the youngest ever MSP at the age of 21. He said the result showed "the level of faith Scotland has in young people".

Image source, PA

Green party co-convener Patrick Harvie said it was clear his party had "gained huge momentum", particularly in Glasgow.

Mr Harvie was elected in the city, while the party now has another five MSPs from the regional lists

Full story here.