Nominations for local elections close

Nominations for May’s local government elections have closed, as parties begin the race to win control of Scotland’s 32 councils.

The ballot on 3 May sees 1,223 councillors elected in 353 wards. Each ward is represented by three or four councillors.

This year’s council elections will be the first since devolution to be held separately to the Holyrood elections.

Scotland’s largest local authority, Glasgow City Council – traditionally a Labour heartland – has already emerged as a major battleground for the SNP. The council is controlled by a minority Labour group.

The SNP is fielding around 600 candidates, in every local authority. Labour is fielding a total of 500 candidates while the Toires will stand 360 candidates.