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Friday, May 8, 2026

Holyrood Election 2026: Results flooding in across the country

The polls have closed and the counting has begun. Later today, we will know just who has come out on top in the Scottish elections as the results start dropping in. Early indications are that John Swinney and the SNP will fall short of a majority. But will that open the door to another coalition with the Greens?

The rival parties are eyeing up 70 constituency seats, elected by the first-past-the-post method. There are a further eight electoral regions each with seven additional MSPs based on a form of proportional voting. In total, 129 parliamentarians are elected.

The magic number for a majority is, therefore, 65 but while that looks unlikely, there could be a pro-independence majority if the SNP and Greens were to share power once again. And that could pile more pressure on Keir Starmer over the prospect of IndyRef2. 

 

Breaking:Regional result for North East Scotland is in…

TORIES: 2 SEATS

REFORM: 2 SEATS

GREENS: 1 SEAT

LABOUR: 1 SEAT

LIB DEM: 1 SEAT

Breaking:Regional result for Edinburgh and Lothians East is in…

GREENS: 3 SEATS

LABOUR: 2 SEATS

REFORM: 1 SEAT

TORIES: 1 SEAT

Breaking:Regional result for Mid Scotland and Fife is in…

REFORM: 2 SEATS

TORIES: 2 SEATS

LABOUR: 2 SEATS

GREENS: 1 SEAT

Murdo Fraser and Stephen Kerr back for the Tories…

Swinney claims SNP has ‘won emphatically’

First Minister and SNP leader John Swinney with his wife Elizabeth and son Matthew, at the election count for the 2026 Holyrood elections, at Dewars Centre in Perth, after he was re-elected in his Perthshire North constituency, with 16,414 votes, a majority of just over 6,000. Picture date: Friday May 8, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Jane Barlow/PA Wire

John Swinney has said the SNP has ‘won emphatically’ in the Scottish Parliament election.

With 70 out of 73 constituencies declared, Mr Swinney’s party has won 55 seats.

Holyrood’s regional list seats will be declared later on Friday evening. Mr Swinney said:

It is now clear that the SNP has won and we have won emphatically. Living in a democracy is something that all of us should cherish and I would like thank everyone who voted in this election. Once again the people of Scotland have put their trust in us. However you voted today, I promise that I will be a First Minister for all of Scotland.

All of us care about our country’s future. I give you my commitment that I will work every day to improve your life and make Scotland the nation we know it can be.

Veteran SNP MSP Fergus Ewing will not return

As these images (below) show, Fergus Ewing represented the Inverness and Nairn area for the SNP for decades. However, he has conceded his career as an MSP is now over.

Mr Ewing stood as an independent against his former party this time around but it was not to be.

The seat is still to be declared but it looks like it will either go to Emma Roddick of the SNP or Neil Alexander of the Lib Dems.

Mr Ewing says he doesn’t know what he will do yet but rules out ‘sitting doing the crossword and watching daytime TV’ for now.

Composite image ID: 451621

Breaking:Lib Dems take Caithness and Sutherland

The SNP loses Caithness and Sutherland as the Lib Dems’ David Green wins.

It means SNP stalwart Maree Todd, who was until recently the Scottish government’s drugs and alcohol minister, loses her seat.

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - NOVEMBER 28: Maree Todd, Minister for Social Care, Mental Wellbeing and Sport, is interviewed in the lobby of the Scottish Parliament, on November 28, 2023 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Ken Jack/Getty Images)

So, where do we stand at the moment?

So far, 69 out of 129 seats have declared.

SNP: 55 Lib Dems: 5 Tories: 4 Labour: 3 Greens: 2

We are waiting for the last four constituency seats.

The 56 regional list seats will then be allocated after that.

Breaking:Jackie Baillie holds Dumbarton for Labour

Jackie Baillie has been an MSP in Dumbarton for 27 years and now she’s got another five to serve after winning there with 12,747 votes.

She won by a majority of 1,786 over the SNP’s Sophie Traynor.

Deputy leader of the Scottish Labour party Dame Jackie Baillie, speaking during the launch of Scottish Labour's manifesto for the upcoming Holyrood election, at the University of Edinburgh Hospitality and Events Collection in Edinburgh. Picture date: Monday April 13, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Euan Cherry/PA Wire

Taking to the podium after her win, Ms Baillie said:

Now whilst it is undoubtedly a positive result in this constituency because we have almost doubled the majority, I am disappointed in the overall result across the country.

We made the argument for change in this election but we’ve lost that argument, but the need for change absolutely remains.

Douglas Ross says Reform ‘missed a trick’

Former Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross addresses the party’s performance so far.

The Tories went into the election as the second largest party but have seen their share of the vote fall in numerous seats.

Mr Ross says it has been ‘a difficult campaign’ for the party, although he backs current leader Russell Findlay, saying he has had an ‘excellent campaign’ but it’s ‘not translating into results’

He welcomes the fact the party held three seats in the south of Scotland.

He says Reform – which is widely viewed as having taken votes from the unionist parties – ‘missed a trick’ when it chose to stand candidates in the 73 constituencies and should have instead focussed on list votes.

He said Reform ‘did well’ in constituencies, but nowhere near well enough.

Alamy Live News. 3DW1KJ5 Edinburgh Scotland, UK 24 February 2026. Douglas Ross at the Scottish Parliament following the files released by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS). credit sst/alamy live news This is an Alamy Live News image and may not be part of your current Alamy deal . If you are unsure, please contact our sales team to check.

Greens claim they are no longer a ‘wasted vote’

Scottish Greens candidate Holly Bruce celebrates after being declared winner of Glasgow Southside in the 2026 Holyrood elections at Glasgow International Arena. Picture date: Friday May 8, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

One of the Scottish Green Party’s newly elected MSPs has said the party is no longer a ‘wasted vote’ after it won its first two constituency seats.

Lorna Slater’s win in Edinburgh Central, where she finished ahead of SNP minister Angus Robertson, meant she became the first Green to win a Holyrood constituency rather than a regional list seat.

Holly Bruce also won Glasgow Southside for the Greens, a seat formerly held by ex-first minister Nicola Sturgeon.

Ms Bruce was battling equalities minister Kaukab Stewart in the constituency.

The Scottish Greens are hopeful of winning their largest group of MSPs, with the full results of regional ballots expected on Friday evening.

Speaking to journalists after her result was announced, Ms Bruce said: ‘I’m delighted for Lorna, she won by a landslide, and I think it’s a big turning point that voting Green isn’t a wasted vote any more on the constituency ballot.

‘We mean business.’

SNP holds Clydesdale

Another fromer SNP cabinet member returns as Mairi McAllan wins in Clydesdale.

However, the votes she won are 6.9% down on what the party secured the last time round.

Key Updates

  • Swinney claims SNP has ‘won emphatically’

  • Douglas Ross says Reform ‘missed a trick’

  • Tory winner calls Reform ‘handmaiden’ of SNP

  • Angus Robertson third as Lorna Slater wins Edinburgh Central

  • The state of play so far

  • Stephen Flynn plays down his ambitions

  • John Swinney says SNP wins are ‘precious’

  • Tories blame Reform for SNP win in Aberdeen

  • Anas Sarwar under pressure

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