Scottish election 2021: SNP wins fourth election in a row

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, The SNP, headed up by first minister Nicola Sturgeon, won its fourth election in a row

The final results of the latest Scottish Parliamentary election are in after voters cast their ballots earlier this week.

On what's been dubbed as 'Super Thursday', those living in Scotland who are eligible to vote went to polling stations to decide who they'd like to form part of the country's new Parliament at Holyrood.

Members of the Scottish Parliament debate and pass laws on lots of important issues including most aspects of day-to-day life in Scotland, such as education, health and transport.

A total of 129 members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) have been elected, and they'll be representing the different constituencies (areas) and wider regions in the country.

What were the results?

Image source, Reuters

Image caption, Votes were counted to determine who would win the 129 seats available in Scottish Parliament

All 129 seats have been declared in Scotland, which means we now know the MSPs who have won seats and the political parties they belong to.

The Scottish National Party (SNP), which is currently lead by first minister Nicola Sturgeon, managed to secure a fourth consecutive victory in the latest election.

Ms Sturgeon also won the most votes in her constituency Glasgow Southside, gaining a comfortable majority.

Which party will form the new government?

Image source, Reuters

Image caption, MSPs make big decisions at Holyrood in Edinburgh

The Scottish government is formed from the party that hold the most seats in parliament and it's led by the first minister, who appoints a number of other ministers to be in charge of lots of different departments like education, health and finance.

A political party needs to secure 65 out of the 129 available seats in Scotland to win an overall majority, and this can give them more power to make big decisions at Holyrood.

The SNP finished with 64 seats, one more seat compared to the last election, which means it will form the next government. However this still wasn't enough to give the party an overall majority.

The SNP will be able to work with other political parties to get their policies passed into law.

How has the first minister responded to the win?

Image source, Reuters

Image caption, First minister Nicola Sturgeon won the most votes in her constituency Glasgow Southside

Following the SNP's win, Ms Sturgeon said her focus in government would be on leading the country through the pandemic and keeping people safe from Covid.

"It is then to kick-start and drive our recovery with an ambitious and transformative programme for government," she said.

"And, yes, when the crisis has passed, it is to give people in Scotland the right to choose their future.

"All of that is what I promised and all of that is what I intend to deliver."

She said the result of the election meant there was "no democratic justification whatsoever for Boris Johnson or anyone else seeking to block the right of the people of Scotland to choose our future."

And she added that holding another referendum to allow adults to decide whether or not they want Scotland to be a part of the UK was now "the will of the country".