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

The count for perhaps the most consequential Scottish Parliament election in history has begun.

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 elections 2021: Edinburgh count gets under way with first results expected at teatime

Voters across Edinburgh faced chilly conditions, torrential rain and even hailstones as they turned out at the polls

Ballot boxes at the P&J Live/TECA, Aberdeen

Scottish Election 2021: The die is cast, now Scotland waits...

Asked whether the Labour Party needs a new leader, former shadow chancellor John McDonnellJohn McDonnell said Sir Keir Starmer has “got to be given his chance”.

Today’s Scotsman front page

Lord Peter Mandelson, former Labour MP for Hartlepool, said he feels “fairly gutted” at the result in Hartlepool and also “a mild fury”.

Counting has started in the Scottish Parliament election

Counting has started in the Scottish Parliament election, with more than half of the constituencies expected to declare on Friday.

Votes in 46 of the 73 constituency seats will be counted, with the first results expected in the afternoon.

All 46 are due to be declared by Friday evening.

Scottish Election 2021: How to use our interactive Holyrood Election result map

Lord Mandelson: ‘Covid and Corbyn to blame for Labour defeat'

Lord Peter Mandelson said he had been knocking doors in Hartlepool during the campaign and told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “Actually, the reasons for the defeat… if I really had to boil them down to two things I would say they were two Cs – Covid and Corbyn.

“With a bit of Brexit, previous Brexit Party voters backing the man, Boris Johnson, who delivered them Brexit, and also promises of a large dollop of Tory Government money thrown in for good measure.

“All this as a whole turned out to be too heady a cocktail for Labour’s campaign to take on.”

Counting begins in Scottish constituencies

Counting has started in the Scottish Parliament election, with more than half of the country’s constituencies expected to declare on Friday.

Results are due to come in over two days as coronavirus safety measures ruled out the traditional overnight count.

Votes in 46 of the 73 constituency seats began being counted at about 9am, with the first results expected in the afternoon.

It is anticipated all 46 should be declared by Friday evening.

From about 9am on Saturday, the remaining 27 constituency seats will be counted, after which the regional seats will be allocated.

All results are expected to be declared by Saturday evening.

This year’s election, while conducted under the constraints of coronavirus rules, is considered to be one of the most important since the Scottish Parliament opened in 1999.

ALBA party leader Alex Salmond watches votes being counted

ALBA party leader Alex Salmond looks on as votes are counted

Votes being counted for the Scottish Parliamentary Elections at the Emirates Arena, Glasgow.

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