SNP wins Scottish election as Reform and Labour tie for second

"The SNP has won a fifth successive Scottish Parliament election, but fallen short of its target of an overall majority at Holyrood. The party won 58 seats, with 65 needed for a majority. The Conservatives lost their position as the parliament's largest opposition party, suffering their worst-ever Holyrood election result to finish with 12 seats. The Liberal Democrats, meanwhile, returned 10 MSPs."

"Overall, there is a majority of parties at Holyrood who support Scottish independence - with the SNP and the Greens totalling 73 of the 129 seats. While the SNP is expected to return to government, it will have to rely on help from other parties to pass legislation and reinstall Swinney as first minister."

"The SNP leader told BBC Scotland News that his party had won the Holyrood election "hands down". As a result of this "commanding position", he added "the public expectation will be for me to be returned as first minister and to lead a government"."

"The party, promising tax cuts and action to curb immigration, had never had an MSP elected before - previous MSPs had defected from other parties. Reform's best hope of a constituency victory - where the candidate with the most votes is elected - was in Banffshire and Buchan Coast, but the party lost out to the SNP by just 364 votes. Offord, who was elected via the West of Scotland list, told BBC Scotland News he had aimed to get more than 20 MSPs, but that the result would provide "a really good group to establish a base inside Holyrood"."

The SNP won 58 seats in the Scottish Parliament election, falling short of the 65 seats needed for an overall majority. The Conservatives dropped to 12 seats, losing their status as the largest opposition party and recording their worst-ever Holyrood result. The Liberal Democrats returned 10 MSPs. Parties supporting Scottish independence hold a majority of seats, with the SNP and the Greens totaling 73 of 129. The SNP is expected to return to government, but it will need support from other parties to pass legislation and to reinstall John Swinney as first minister. Reform UK gained attention as a new force, with Malcolm Offord elected and the party aiming to establish a base in Holyrood while acting as challengers and scrutineers.

Read at www.bbc.com