Scottish Election results 2021 RECAP: Alex Salmond concedes Alba unlikely to win seats | SNP's Angus Robertson takes Edinburgh Central from Scottish Conservatives | Nicola Sturgeon and John Swinney win constituencies | Labour's Jackie Baillie holds onto Dumbarton | Turnout surges | Interactive constituency map
Take a look back on the events as they happened throughout the day.
Scottish Election 2021 RECAP: Election results and updates from across Scotland
Key Events
- Angus Robertson takes Edinburgh Central from Tories
- Sturgeon plays down chances of SNP majority
- SNP take Ayr from Tories in tight race
- Salmond concedes Alba unlikely to win seats
- SNP gain East Lothian from Labour
Scottish Labour hold Edinburgh Southern
Daniel Johnson has held Edinburgh Southern for Scottish Labour, with 20,760 votes. The SNP came second with 16,738 votes, followed by the Scottish Conservatives on 5,258 votes.
Mr Johnson has held the seat since his victory over the SNP’s Jim Eadie in 2016.
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SNP hold Aberdeen Central
The SNP’s Kevin Stewart has been re-elected in Aberdeen Central with 14,217 votes.
His Scottish Conservative challenger came second, receiving 7,623 votes.
Meanwhile Scottish Labour slipped into third place, on 6,294 votes.
Jackson Carlaw holds Eastwood
Former Tory leader Jackson Carlaw has been re-elected in Eastwod with 17,911 votes.
The SNP took 15,695 votes, while Labour finished third on 6,759 votes.
Dumbarton now ‘key’ to hopes of SNP majority
SNP hopes of winning an overall majority now lie with the seat of Dumbarton.
The party has so far failed to pick up other marginal seats, including Eastwood, Edinburgh Southern and Edinburgh Western.
Dumbarton, currently held by Labour’s deputy leader Jackie Baillie, is the most marginal constituency in Scotland.
Just 109 votes separated Ms Baillie from her SNP challenger in 2016.
Turnout in the seat this time around was 68.5 per cent, according to election officials.
Salmond concedes Alba unlikely to win seats
Alex Salmond has admitted that Alba is unlikely to win a single seat at Holyrood, after indications of poor results across Scotland’s regional vote.
The former First Minister said many of the party’s arguments about using the list to secure a super independence majority will prove to have been right.
Alex Salmond, AlbaWhether we’ll make it tomorrow - I don’t think so on the vote we’ve seen.
Encouraging signs for Scottish Greens - The Scotsman analysis
A succession of polls in the lead up to the election pointed to the Scottish Greens enjoying their best ever election at Holyrood, and the early signs suggest that such predictions are not misplaced.
A full breakdown of how the electorate allocated their list votes is not expected until Saturday evening, but crunching the early numbers from Friday’s count gives weight to claims that the party is a growing force in Scottish politics.
Read the full story:
Early signs encouraging for Scottish Greens with all to play for in regional lists
A succession of polls in the lead up to the election pointed to the Scottish Greens enjoying their best ever election at Holyrood, and the early signs suggest that such predictions are not misplaced.
First Minister reacts to being re-elected as MSP for Glasgow Southside
Nicola SturgeonIt is a privilege indeed to be re-elected as MSP for Glasgow Southside. I’m grateful to everyone who voted for me & I’ll represent the entire constituency to the best of my ability. And to my campaign team, led by my ace election agent Mhairi Hunter - you are all magnificent.