Politics News
SNP wins Scotland's election but falls seven short of a majority as Reform ties Labour
The Scottish National Party won the Holyrood election held on May 7 but fell short of an overall majority. STV News gave the final seats: SNP 58 (64 in 2021), Reform UK 17 (one before the election), Labour 17 (22 in 2021), Scottish Greens 15, a record high, Conservatives 12 (31 in 2021) and the Liberal Democrats 10. A majority needs 65.
First Minister John Swinney still claimed a clear win. Planet Rock News reported his words and Labour leader Anas Sarwar conceding after just seven results: “My party is hurting – we're disappointed.” Reform won no constituency seats, and its Scottish leader Malcolm Offord finished third in Inverclyde.
“It is now clear that the SNP has won and we have won emphatically.” — John Swinney, via Planet Rock News
STV reported that Donald Trump congratulated Swinney on Truth Social, calling him “a good man” who “worked very hard” on tariff relief for Scottish whisky. UnHerd noted the SNP's vote share fell by “over a fifth” and argued that, without a majority, Swinney's case for an independence referendum is weaker and easier for the UK government to reject.
How each outlet framed it
- STV News — the seat changes since 2021 and the unusual praise from the White House.
- Planet Rock News — the night's speeches, including Swinney's promise to be “a First Minister for all of Scotland”.
- UnHerd — the union: Swinney's hoped-for “Celtic Arc” with Plaid Cymru and Sinn Féin, and the view that the UK “is not as united as it was on Friday morning.”
Where the numbers differ: UnHerd, writing during the count, had Reform on 17 regional seats and the Greens on 15 but no final Labour total; STV's final count put Labour level with Reform.