Scottish elections: SNP ahead of Labour

With all of the results declared, the Scottish National Party won 424 seats, gaining 57, while Labour are on 394, a gain of 58. The biggest losers were the Liberal Democrats, who lost 80 councillors.

Labour held on to Scotland’s biggest city, Glasgow, despite a strong challenge from the SNP. Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont said: “If last year was a tsunami for the SNP, perhaps now the tide is going out on (SNP leader) Alex Salmond.” Labour is also the largest party in Edinburgh.

Labour surged ahead in Aberdeen with 17 seats, up by nine compared to the previous administration’s eight. The SNP secured a total of 15 seats with no change, while the Conservatives won just three seats.

The SNP took Stirling, while Labour now has the most councillors in Inverclyde and Fife.

When voting began, the SNP was hoping to build on the 363 seats it won in 2007, while Labour aimed to make gains on its 348 seats.

Labour ‘back on their feet’

Professor of politics at Strathclyde University, John Curtice, told Channel 4 News that the SNP has not made as many gains as it would have hoped.

Labour looks as though it’s advancing more strongly. The party has done better than expected. It means that the Labour party’s back on their feet. But they’ve still got quite a way to go. -Professor of politics at Strathclyde University, John Curtice

“Labour looks as though it’s advancing more strongly. The party has done better than expected,” he said.

But Professor Curtice said Labour and the SNP remained on an almost equal footing, according to the early results.

“It means that the Labour party’s back on their feet. But they’ve still got quite a way to go.

“It’s a much smaller increase in SNP support on 2007 than the party achieved in last year’s parliamentary elections.

“So it could mean that Labour end up as slightly the larger party across Scotland as a whole. But which party emerges with the most seats might not be clear for some time,” he said.

‘Real progress’

But SNP leader Alex Salmond remained upbeat, telling party members in Aberdeen that “it’s going to be a long day but it’s looking good so far”.

SNP deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon added: “We’re going to make real progress.

It’s going to be a long day but it’s looking good so far. – Alex Salmond, Scottish First Minister

“We’ve picked up two seats on the way, in Craigton and Greater Pollok. We’re pretty much on track at this stage of the game.”

Turnout down

Voters cast their ballots on Thursday to elect more than 1,000 councillors across 32 local authorities.

Turnout across Scotland was down, with around 38 per cent of voters heading out to polling stations.