John Swinney, the Scottish National party leader, has challenged Keir Starmer to show “greater respect” to the Scottish government after winning the Holyrood elections by a comfortable margin. The SNP secured a record fifth term in office with 58 of Holyrood’s 129 seats, though falling short of an overall majority.
In a dramatic conclusion to the count, Labour and Reform UK were left tied on 17 seats each after Highlands council finished its regional list count early on Saturday. Labour’s result was its worst since devolution in 1999, leaving the Scottish parliament in the unprecedented position of having two parties in joint second place.
Speaking after his victory, Swinney hinted he no longer plans to vigorously pursue a second independence referendum, but said it was incumbent on the UK government to treat the Scottish government as partners. “Scotland needs respect as a consequence of that election outcome,” he told the BBC.
The SNP’s national share of the vote, at 38.3%, was its lowest since 2007, and the party lost six constituency seats, chiefly to the Liberal Democrats. Turnout fell to 53.1%, the lowest of the last three Holyrood elections. Meanwhile, the Scottish Greens won their first constituency seat when former co-leader Lorna Slater unseated SNP minister Angus Robertson in Edinburgh Central.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar conceded early in the count, saying his party had lost comprehensively. He stood by his earlier call for Starmer to resign, blaming a “national dissatisfaction” with the UK government. Labour sources said voters deserted the party over welfare changes, the Gaza conflict and Reform’s anti-immigration agenda.
