Summary

  • The SNP will form the next Holyrood government having won 64 seats - just one short of an overall majority

  • Party leader and first minister Nicola Sturgeon says she wants to see the country through the pandemic and then "give people in Scotland the right to choose their future"

  • With all results declared, the Scottish Conservatives have secured 31 seats (no change); Scottish Labour 22 (-2); Scottish Greens 8 (+2) and Scottish Lib Dems 4 (-1)

  • Smaller parties, including former Scottish first minister Alex Salmond's Alba and George Galloway's All for Unity, won nothing

  • The turnout of 66% is the highest since the parliament was established in 1999

  1. Sturgeon 'thrilled beyond words' at Kaukab Stewart's electionpublished at 17:29 British Summer Time 8 May 2021

    Nicola Sturgeon congratulates all elected MSPs and reminds them it is a huge honour to be a member of the national parliament.

    The SNP leader says: "I am thrilled beyond words to see Kaubab Stewart elected.

    "It has taken us far too long, more than 20 years, but today she becomes the first woman of colour to be elected to our national parliament."

    Sturgeon and StewartImage source, PA
  2. Aberdeenshire West winner: 'We need to be focused on the economy'published at 17:22 British Summer Time 8 May 2021

    Alexander BurnettImage source, PA Media

    Alexander Burnett, who held the crucial Aberdeenshire West seat for the Scottish Conservatives, says he is "absolutely delighted".

    The Tory MSP says there has been resounding support for his party in the North East.

    He argues that the majority of people have voted for parties who want to stay in the union.

    "We need to be focused on the economy," he adds.

  3. Analysis

    Greens 'could be big winners of this election'published at 17:15 British Summer Time 8 May 2021

    Philip Sim
    BBC Scotland political correspondent

    Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie gives a thumbs-up at the Glasgow countImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie could be in a position of greater influence in Holyrood

    Based on the BBC projection – of really not much changing inparliament – the big winners of this election could be the Greens.

    Not just because they look set to pick up a few seats, but because of the influence they could wield in the next parliament.

    In the debate over independence, Green MSPs could be crucial in forming a majority in favour of holding a referendum.

    But beyond that they will also be first in line to strike budget deals with the SNP, as they did in the 2016 parliament.

    This means they can push forward their own policy priorities in return for votes – something that would have been impossible in an SNP majority parliament.

    And there is still the question of whether they could form a coalition, in a bid to create an even more thumping mandate for indyref2.

    This may be unlikely, but the fact they are in the conversation at all is evidence of the enviable position they find themselves in.

  4. Scottish election 2021: The story so farpublished at 17:09 British Summer Time 8 May 2021

    Here's a summary of some of the latest results and developments in the Holyrood vote:

    • The Scottish Conservatives have held on to two key seats - Galloway & West Dumfries and Aberdeenshire West - almost certainly dashing SNP hopes of an overall majority.
    • The BBC is now projecting the SNP will end up with 63 seats, two short of overall control, and a result similar to the 2016 election but with a bigger Green presence
    • The forecast is that the Tories will get 31 MSPs, Labour 22, the Greens nine and the Lib Dems four.
    • Despite failing to win those two target seats, the SNP extended their lead in the constituency vote during Saturday's counting, holding on to a further 21 seats where they already had MSPs.
    • With 71 out of 73 constituencies declared the SNP currently have 60 seats, the Conservatives five, the Lib Dems four and Labour have two
    • Kaukab Stewart has become the first woman of colour to be elected as an MSP after her victory in Glasgow Kelvin
    • She comfortably beat Scottish Green co-leader Patrick Harvie, but he looks set to return to Holyrood along with a record number of Green candidates when the regional list results come in later
    • No seats have changed hands since Friday, when the SNP took two from the Tories (Ayr and Edinburgh Central) and one from Labour (East Lothian)
    • Alex Salmond has again conceded that his Alba party may not end up with any MSPs

  5. First woman of colour elected to Holyrood: 'I will not be the last'published at 17:00 British Summer Time 8 May 2021

    Kaukab Stewart becomes Holyrood's first woman of colour to be elected as an MSP after holding Glasgow Kelvin for the SNP.

    In her victory speech Ms Stewart says "It is without doubt an honour to be elected as the first woman of colour to the Scottish Parliament.

    "It has taken too long, but to all the women and girls of colour out there the Scottish Parliament belongs to you too,

    "So whilst I may be the first I will not be the last."

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post

    The 53-year-old teacher has been a campaigner for more than 20 years and this is her fifth attempt at being elected - she even stood against Donald Dewar in 1999.

    Yesterday a Liberal Party member who confronted the SNP MSP Humza Yousaf at a Glasgow election count has been suspended.

    Earlier she told the BBC's Aileen Clarke she was delighted it was dealt with so quickly, as there are "multiple barriers faced by women of colour" and incidents like yesterday's will put people of politics.

    Ms Stewart says: "There is no place for racism in this country and our democratic procedures will prevail."

  6. Analysis

    A battle between turnout and tactical votingpublished at 16:55 British Summer Time 8 May 2021

    Nick Eardley
    Political correspondent

    At the start of the election count yesterday, we said it would be a battle. Not between parties, but between SNP turnout and unionist tactical voting.

    In a number of seats, the SNP operation has triumphed. It is no small achievement after 14 years of government to win constituency seats from others.

    But in just enough places, unionist tactical voting has been widespread enough to stop the SNP winning a majority alone.

    This will not stop the calls for another referendum.

    If you add in the Greens, we are still expecting a comfortable majority of pro-independence MSPs. They have stood on a mandate to hold another referendum in the next five years.

  7. SNP hold Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdalepublished at 16:50 British Summer Time 8 May 2021
    Breaking

    midlothian

    Christine Grahame has held Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale for the SNP.

    Her majority over the Conservatives increased to 6,826.

    Full results here

  8. SNP hold Glasgow Kelvinpublished at 16:46 British Summer Time 8 May 2021
    Breaking

    glasgow kelvin

    Kaukab Stewart has won Glasgow Kelvin for the SNP, becoming the first woman of colour to be elected in the 22 years since the Scottish Parliament was reconvened.

    The 53-year-old teacher has stood at five elections going all the way back to when she ran against Scottish Labour leader Donald Dewar in 1999.

    Ms Stewart takes over the seat from Sandra White who stood down at the election.

    She won with a majority of 5,458 over the Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie.

    However, Mr Harvie looks set to be elected on the Glasgow regional list.

    Full results here

  9. 'The people of Scotland have spoken, Westminster now has to listen'published at 16:43 British Summer Time 8 May 2021

    SNP Westminster leader Ian BlackfordImage source, bbc
    Image caption,

    SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford

    Ian Blackford says the predicted victory is a "fantastic result" for the SNP.

    The SNP's Westminster leader says his party has won the highest vote share of any party in the history of the Scottish Parliament.

    He argues this result is a mandate for an independence referendum.

    Mr Blackford says he looks forward to "us saying to Boris Johnson that he has to respect democracy".

    He adds there will be a significant majority for independence at Holyrood.

    "The people of Scotland have spoken, Westminster now has to listen."

  10. BBC predicts SNP victory without majoritypublished at 16:32 British Summer Time 8 May 2021
    Breaking

    Prediction

    On the basis of the results in so far, the BBC is predicting that the SNP will be the largest party in the new Scottish Parliament and that there will be a majority of MSPs in favour of another independence referendum.

    From a projection by Professor Sir John Curtice, the BBC predicts that the SNP will win the election with 63 seats.

    That's two seats shy of the 65 needed for a majority in Holyrood.

    resultImage source, bbc
  11. SNP hold Edinburgh Pentlandspublished at 16:26 British Summer Time 8 May 2021
    Breaking

    edinburgh pentlands

    The SNP’s Gordon MacDonald has held Edinburgh Pentlands.

    Mr MacDonald increased his majority over the Conservatives to 3,897.

    Full results here

  12. Analysis

    Curtice: No path to SNP majoritypublished at 16:25 British Summer Time 8 May 2021

    Professor Sir John Curtice
    Polling expert

    The Conservative success in Aberdeenshire West means that there is now no conceivable path to the SNP securing 65 seats.

    At most they could now win 64 by picking up list seats in the Highlands and the South of Scotland.

    result
  13. Conservatives hold Aberdeenshire Westpublished at 16:24 British Summer Time 8 May 2021
    Breaking

    aberdeenshire west

    The Conservatives have held Aberdeenshire West, a key SNP target in its bid to get a majority of seats in the Scottish Parliament.

    It is the only seat in the whole North East region that the SNP have not won.

    Alexander Burnett won the seat for the Tories with a majority of 3,390, up from just 900 at the 2016 election. Its share of the vote was up 9.1%. The SNP were up 3.6% and Labour were down 12.6%.

    Turnout was up by almost 10 percentage points to 69.5%.

    Full results here

  14. Around the counts: 'As you were' for West of Scotlandpublished at 16:19 British Summer Time 8 May 2021

    Paul Ward
    BBC Scotland reporter at Braehead Arena

    Braehead Arena
    Image caption,

    Counting continues at Braehead Arena

    The election story from Renfrewshire and the West region seems to be "as you were". The SNP has comfortably held the three Renfrewshire seats being counted at Braehead, including Renfrewshire North and West - previously held by former party rising star Derek Mackay.

    Despite original uncertainty over the impact of any Alba list votes, the Greens are very confident of returning Ross Greer on the list - but no further gains are expected.

    Victories for Labour’s Jackie Baillie in Dumbarton and the Tories' Jackson Carlaw in Eastwood mean that those down to fourth place on their respective party list rankings could be elected MSPs.

  15. Party vote share after 67 seats declaredpublished at 16:13 British Summer Time 8 May 2021

    Vote share
  16. Can Lib Dems get 'magic' fifth seat to retain 'proper' party status?published at 16:12 British Summer Time 8 May 2021

    A reminder that this election is not just about whether the SNP can get to 65 seats and win an outright majority.

    Our political correspondent Phil Sim says that for the smaller parties like the Liberal Democrats, winning five seats or more remains a key target.

    This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    Skip twitter post

    Allow Twitter content?

    This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

    The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
    End of twitter post
  17. Police launch electoral fraud probepublished at 16:05 British Summer Time 8 May 2021

    A possible case of electoral fraud at the Edinburgh count is being investigated by the police.

    A suspicious ballot paper was seized after a would-be voter in the Edinburgh Northern and Leith constituency tried to vote, only to be stopped because someone had already cast a ballot in their name.

    A Police Scotland spokeswoman said inquiries were ongoing into a report of voter personation at a polling station in St Serf's Church, Edinburgh.

    Sources at the count stress it could be a clerical error rather than electoral fraud.

    A separate report of voter personation at a polling station in St Patrick's Primary School, Dumbarton has also been received.

    ballot boxImage source, PA Media
  18. SNP hold East Kilbridepublished at 16:00 British Summer Time 8 May 2021
    Breaking

    east kilbride

    Collette Stevenson has won East Kilbride for the SNP with a reduced majority of 8,672 over Labour.

    The seat was held by the SNP’s Linda Fabiani before she stood down at the election.

    The SNP's share of the vote was down 4.1% and Labour were up 6.4%.

    Full results here

  19. Analysis

    Curtice: Galloway defeat 'not fatal' for SNP majoritypublished at 15:58 British Summer Time 8 May 2021

    Professor Sir John Curtice
    Polling expert

    An SNP success in Galloway and West Dumfries would have kept them on course for an overall majority, but defeat is not fatal to their hopes.

    The fact that the SNP have lost here still leaves a possibility that they will pick up a regional list seat in the South of Scotland - although their hopes of doing so are somewhat less than 50%.

    resultsImage source, bbc
  20. SNP hold Glasgow Shettlestonpublished at 15:52 British Summer Time 8 May 2021
    Breaking

    Glasgow Shettleston

    John Mason has held Glasgow Shettleston for the SNP.

    His majority over Labour increased to 8,025.

    Labour's share of the vote increased by 2.3% on an increased turnout.

    Full results here