John Swinney has declared that Downing Street has “a lot of listening to do” following the Scottish Parliament election, urging mutual respect between the two governments. Speaking to the BBC as his party claimed a decisive victory on Friday, the First Minister noted that relations had “soured” during the campaign.
Swinney confident in pro-independence majority
Mr Swinney, who appears set to remain in Bute House, expressed confidence that there would be a pro-independence majority, including support from the Scottish Greens. “I’d like to enjoy a more co-operative relationship with the United Kingdom Government – we have got to be partners, we have got shared interests,” he said.
He added: “There has been a souring of relationships over the last nine months with the UK Government – it’s all been about the politics of the election. Now the Labour Government has just been hammered in Scotland and I hope that lesson is learned in Downing Street that there’s now got to be respect for the Scottish Government exercised by the UK Government.”
His message to Downing Street was unequivocal: “They have got a lot of listening to do to the fact that Labour have been hammered here in Scotland and an SNP Government, after 19 years in office, has just been emphatically returned to office, and Scotland needs respect as a consequence of that election outcome.”
Independence referendum calls intensify
Throughout the campaign, Mr Swinney argued that a majority for his party would strengthen demands for a second independence referendum. Despite the SNP’s victory, they are expected to fall short of the 65 seats needed for an outright majority. He said Holyrood must “consider the aspirations of all parties and consider the aspirations of those who want Scotland to be an independent country.”
Key results and defeats
Angus Robertson, the former constitution, external affairs and culture secretary, lost his seat to the Scottish Greens, who claimed their first constituency seat in Holyrood’s history. Lorna Slater, a former minister in the SNP-Green powersharing deal, hailed her victory as “a big step for the Scottish Green Party.” While all previous Green MSPs were elected on the regional list, this time they secured seats in both Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Mr Robertson attributed his defeat partly to boundary changes but acknowledged: “At the end of the day what matters most is who gets the most votes, and that wasn’t me.” He added: “I think one of the most important lessons in politics is to treat people on the way down the way you treat them on the way up. Because politics is a really, really hard business.”
Ms Slater will be joined by Glasgow councillor Holly Bruce, who defeated minister Kaukab Stewart in the Glasgow Southside seat formerly held by Nicola Sturgeon.
SNP gains and Reform UK impact
Mr Robertson’s defeat came despite the SNP making gains elsewhere, most notably winning the Shetland seat held by the Liberal Democrats since devolution began. The SNP also took the Eastwood constituency near Glasgow from the Scottish Tories, aided by a rise in Reform UK support. The Conservative vote dropped by over 10%, with Reform UK securing 9% of the vote, enabling former SNP MP Kirsten Oswald to be elected to Holyrood.
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn was elected as MSP for Aberdeen Deeside and North Kincardine, while fellow SNP MP Stephen Gethins also swapped Westminster for Holyrood after winning in Dundee City East.
Swinney’s certainty and Labour’s hurt
Speaking as results came in, Mr Swinney told the Press Association: “What I’m certain about is the SNP is going to be the leading party in the Scottish Parliament after these elections, and we will be so by a very considerable margin.”
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar admitted his party was “hurting”, telling reporters: “Those who seek to divide us and use people with frustrations to divide us are going to win the day today.” However, he hinted he would remain in his post, stating: “My party is hurting – we’re disappointed. We advocate for change, we didn’t win that argument, but it’s my job to hold us together and that’s a job I intend to do.”
Mr Swinney criticised Labour’s campaign as “fundamentally negative”, saying: “They have essentially said to people to vote against the SNP, they’ve not given people any reasons to vote for the Labour Party. I set out an ambitious agenda to continue the improvements in the National Health Service, to deliver practical support, to tackle the cost of living challenges that members of the public face, and offer people in Scotland the opportunity of a fresh start with independence. You’ve got to motivate people with your message and your ideas and your hopes. The SNP has done that, and the Labour Party hasn’t.”
Reform UK fails to win seats
Despite rising support for Reform UK, the party has not yet won any Holyrood seats. Scottish leader Malcolm Offord finished third in the Inverclyde constituency, but he and other Reform UK candidates could still be elected via the list vote. Liberal Democrat Liam McArthur, the first MSP returned in this election, retained his island constituency with a record 70% of the vote.
