13 C
London
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. 

 

The battle for second place could have interesting consequences…

So, why are we waiting?

There is just one regional list left to declare: the Highlands and Islands.

It’s been over 12 hours since the ballot boxes were opened.

We’ve waiting this long, what’s an extra few minutes to find out the final total?

Where did everyone go, Malcolm?

Malcolm Offord cut a lonely figure as he found out he had been elected as an MSP at Braehead Arena.

For those counting, that’s one seat to add to his total…

Braehead Arena in Renfrew today (Friday) at the count for the West of Scotland Regionals in the Scottish Parliamentary Elections Reform UK Scotland leader Malcolm Offord listening to the results off the list vote which made him an MSP. He was the only politician left in the building as all others had left© Wattie Cheung.........8/5/26Editorial Use Only, All reproduction fees payable,No Syndication ©Wattie Cheung tel 07774 885266email.... wattiecheung@mac.com
Braehead Arena in Renfrew today (Friday) at the count for the West of Scotland Regionals in the Scottish Parliamentary Elections Reform UK Scotland leader Malcolm Offord listening to the results off the list vote which made him an MSP. He was the only politician left in the building as all others had left© Wattie Cheung.........8/5/26Editorial Use Only, All reproduction fees payable,No Syndication ©Wattie Cheung tel 07774 885266email.... wattiecheung@mac.com
Braehead Arena in Renfrew today (Friday) at the count for the West of Scotland Regionals in the Scottish Parliamentary Elections Reform UK Scotland leader Malcolm Offord listening to the results off the list vote which made him an MSP. He was the only politician left in the building as all others had left© Wattie Cheung.........8/5/26Editorial Use Only, All reproduction fees payable,No Syndication ©Wattie Cheung tel 07774 885266email.... wattiecheung@mac.com

Breaking:Regional result for Central Scotland and Lothians West is in…

We are almost there as the penultimate regional list comes in…

  • Reform: 3 SEATS
  • Labour: 2 SEATS
  • Greens: 1 SEAT
  • Tories: 1 SEAT

Russell Findlay ‘disappointed’ to have lost colleagues… and points finger at Reform

Breaking:Regional result for West Scotland is in… with Russell Findlay, Malcolm Offord and Ross Greer all elected

  • Labour – 2 SEATS
  • Reform – 2 SEATS
  • Greens – 2 SEATS
  • Tories – 1 SEAT

Breaking:All 73 constituency results are in…

After nearly 12 hours of counting, the first part is over.

Here’s how it stands:

  • SNP – 57 SEATS
  • Lib Dem – 7 SEATS
  • Tories – 4 SEATS
  • Labour – 3 SEATS
  • Greens – 2 SEATS

Exclusive:Watch the Mail’s top team discuss the ramifications of the election…

Breaking:Uddingston and Bellshill: SNP hold

Steven Bonnar takes Uddingston and Bellshill with 11,966 votes

Tory wipeout in Glasgow

Breaking:Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch: Liberal Democrat gain from SNP

The Lib Dems have Andrew Baxter elected in the seat vacated by deputy first minister Kate Forbes.

Baxter has been elected as the new MSP with 15,223 votes – about 1,000 more than the SNP candidate, Eilidh Munro.

Some big names return on the regional lists

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar (centre) and wife Furheen take photographs at Glasgow International Arena for the 2026 Holyrood elections. Picture date: Friday May 8, 2026. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire

Anas Sarwar returns to Holyrood on the Glasgow regional list. Whether he remains as Labour leader remains to be seen.

For the Greens, former leader Patrick Harvie is also heading back to the Scottish Parliament, while Reform’s Thomas Kerr graduates to MSP.

Key Updates

  • Regional result for West Scotland is in… with Russell Findlay, Malcolm Offord and Ross Greer all elected

  • All 73 constituency results are in…

  • Watch the Mail’s top team discuss the ramifications of the election…

  • Russell Findlay: What we warned would happen is exactly what has happened

  • 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

TOP STORIES

Hot this week

Diana’s ex-hairdresser condemns ‘evil’ comments about Kate’s hair

Princess Diana's former hairdresser has condemned 'nasty' comments made about the Princess of Wales 's hair - as she stepped out with her newly blonde tresses.

The unusual breakfast request Princess Lilibet asks Meghan Markle for

Meghan Markle revealed her children's favourite meals and that she 'doesn't like baking' on the second season of her lifestyle show With Love, Meghan.

Experts reveal how many tins of tuna is safe to eat a week

The NHS advises people to eat at least two portions of fish a week, yet a recent investigation revealed toxic metals, including mercury, could be lurking in cans of tinned tuna sold in the UK.

Some people DO see ghosts – and medics say there’s an explanation

An astonishing third of people in the UK and almost half of Americans say they believe in ghosts, spirits and other types of paranormal activity.

Prince Philip’s nickname only his nearest and dearest could call him

From 'Lillibet' to 'Grandpa Wales', members of the Royal Family are known to go by many nicknames.

Watch Daniel Dubois’ trainer put Daily Mail Sport through their paces

My footwork is wrong. My guard keeps slipping. And I'm not rotating enough when I punch, the man currently training Daniel Dubois tells me. I imagine this is something of a downgrade for him.

Carrick responds to rumours Man United are talking to other managers

CHRIS WHEELER: Casemiro and Matheus Cunha are the latest United players to say publicly that Carrick deserves to keep the job after guiding his team to 10 wins in 14 games.

Kate and Wills host royal garden party on behalf of King Charles

The Prince of Wales admitted he had 'bags under the eyes' as he hosted a Buckingham Palace garden party the day after watching his beloved Aston Villa reach the Europa League final.

Southampton CHARGED by the EFL in Middlesbrough ‘spygate’ scandal

Southampton have been charged by the EFL for spying on Middlesbrough's training session ahead of their Championship play-off semi-final.

LIVE: Reform gain more than 1,400 seats as Labour loses Wales

LIVE UPDATES: Follow the results and reaction from the UK local elections across England, Scotland and Wales in the biggest test of public opinion since Labour's landslide win in the 2024 general election.

Labour loses control of Birmingham City Council

Labour has lost Birmingham City Council after 14 calamitous years in charge of the city council, with voters leaving the UK's second city with no overall control.

Nadia Sawalha ‘dropped from Loose Women after anti-Semitic posts’

Nadia, 61, was not on the panel this week - and will not appear next week - after she was accused of sharing 'unhinged' anti-Semitic conspiracy theories on social media.

Holyrood Election 2026: Results flooding in across the country

The polls have closed and the counting has begun. By later today, we will know just who has come out on top in the Scottish elections as the results start dropping in...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img