SNP Secures Fifth Scottish Election Win, Lacks Overall Majority with 58 Seats

The Scottish National Party (SNP) has won the Scottish Parliament election for a fifth successive term, although the party failed to achieve its target of an overall majority at Holyrood. The SNP secured 58 seats, requiring 65 for a majority.

Opposition Landscape Shifts at Holyrood

Labour, which once aimed to unseat the SNP, finished in a distant second position with 17 seats, tied with Reform UK. This marks Reform UK's electoral breakthrough in Scotland, securing its first directly elected Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs). The Scottish Greens achieved a record 15 seats, including their initial constituency victories. The Conservative Party, previously the largest opposition, experienced its worst-ever Holyrood election result, finishing with 12 seats. The Liberal Democrats returned 10 MSPs.

SNP leader John Swinney had indicated that an SNP majority could pave the way for another independence referendum. Collectively, parties supporting Scottish independence—the SNP and the Greens—now hold 73 of the 129 seats. The SNP is expected to form the next government, requiring support from other parties for legislative initiatives and to reappoint Swinney as First Minister.

Mr Swinney stated his party had won the Holyrood election "hands down," adding that the public's expectation would be for him to continue as First Minister and lead the government.

Reform UK Gains Ground, Conservatives Decline

Reform UK, led in Scotland by Malcolm Offord, secured 17 seats. The party, advocating for tax cuts and stricter immigration controls, had not previously elected an MSP. Mr Offord, elected via the West of Scotland list, noted the result would establish "a really good group to establish a base inside Holyrood." He affirmed Reform UK would act as "challengers and scrutineers" of the Scottish government, focusing on devolved matters such as schools and roads.

Reform UK's success, fragmenting the unionist vote, facilitated the SNP's retention of numerous constituency seats despite a decline in its overall vote share since 2021. However, the SNP lost the Western Isles to Labour and seats in Edinburgh and Glasgow. High-profile SNP figure Angus Robertson lost Edinburgh Central to Green co-leader Lorna Slater, marking the Greens' first constituency win.

Labour leader Anas Sarwar acknowledged a disappointing outcome for his party, which failed to overcome a "national wave of disappointment." The Scottish Conservatives lost their decade-long position as Holyrood's largest opposition party, dropping to fourth place as Reform UK eroded their support. Conservative leader Russell Findlay commented that Reform UK's presence proved a "gift to the SNP," enabling them to win constituencies they might otherwise have lost.