SNP Wins Fifth Scottish Election but Falls Short of Majority

The Scottish National Party won a fifth consecutive election to the Scottish Parliament but fell short of an outright majority, securing 58 seats in the 129-seat chamber. SNP leader John Swinney said the result represented a significant and emphatic victory and that public expectation was for him to return as first minister and lead a government.

He told reporters he would seek common ground with other parties except Reform UK, which he said held completely different values. Reform UK entered the Scottish Parliament for the first time, tying with Labour on 17 seats each. The Scottish Greens won 15 seats, creating a pro-independence majority of 73 MSPs when combined with the SNP.

Swinney said he would engage in talks with other opposition parties in the coming days to ensure Nigel Farage and Reform are locked out of governance in Scotland. He reaffirmed a commitment to build a Scotland where everyone feels seen, at home and able to contribute.

Swinney argued that the rise of Reform UK across the UK strengthened the case for Scottish independence. He warned that a Reform-led government at Westminster was more likely than not and said it was vital to ensure the Scottish Parliament is fully protected from such influence.

The first minister said there are now more pro-independence MSPs than at any time in the history of the Scottish Parliament. He added that the way forward must be made in Scotland and that results across the UK showed the urgent need for independence.

Swinney indicated he would pursue a new independence referendum before 2029 to allow Scotland to decide its constitutional future without external blocking. He previously struck a power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens after the 2021 election, though that arrangement later collapsed.

The party also lost several constituency seats, including Edinburgh Central to the Greens' Lorna Slater and Glasgow Southside, previously held by Nicola Sturgeon. Labour recorded its worst performance in the history of the Scottish Parliament. The Conservatives also posted their worst ever result at Holyrood.

Both parties will compete with the new group of Reform UK MSPs for offices, seating and speaking time in the chamber. Scotland continues to face faltering economic growth, high inflation and rising welfare costs that are straining public services. Swinney said his immediate priorities upon returning to government would be delivering practical support on the cost of living and continuing improvements to the National Health Service.

England, Reform UK became the largest party on Kirklees Council after previously holding no seats. Labour lost all its seats on the council. The local election results in Kirklees formed part of wider voting across England that saw significant gains for Reform UK and losses for the governing Labour Party.

“I will build a Scotland where everyone feels seen, where everyone feels at home and where everyone is able to contribute to Scotland’s story.”

The new Scottish Parliament will include dozens of new MSPs, including a substantial bloc from Reform UK. Politicians will confront challenges including the long-term effects of Covid, Brexit and austerity as well as the potential impact of artificial intelligence on the economy and public services.