Nicola Sturgeon has been re-elected as First Minster of Scotland as head of what will be a minority SNP government having fallen one short of achieving an overall majority.
With all the results from the sixth Scottish parliament elections the SNP was returned with 64 MSPs, one up on the number the party achieved in 2106.
Sturgeon said in a victory speech that another Scottish independence referendum is the “will of the country”, setting up a continued constitutional clash with Boris Johnson.
Combined the pro-independence SNP and Scottish Greens won a total of 72 seats in Holyrood, with the Greens increasing from six to eight MSPs in the campaign.
Speaking on Saturday, the First Minister said her first focus would be on the coronavirus pandemic, but that the people of Scotland should be able to decide on the constitutional question “when the time is right”.
The Conservatives, led by Douglas Ross, maintained their position as the biggest opposition party with 31 seats, the same number as achieved under the previous leader Ruth Davidson.
Ross, the MP for Moray, returns to the Scottish parliament as an MSP on the Highland regional list.
Labour’s Anas Sarwar was also returned on the Glasgow region list, heading 22 Labour MSPs, two less than 2016 but having averted a predicted disaster for the party.
The SNP's Kaukab Stewart and Conservative Pam Gosal become the first women of colour to be elected to the Scottish Parliament.
Labour's Pam Duncan-Glancy created Holyrood history as she becomes the first permanent wheelchair user to be elected to Holyrood as the gender balance in the chamber swung towards more female representation.
While the Scottish Green increased their representation and share of the vote across the country the Lib Dems, led by Willie Rennie, were reduced to four MSPs and lost their role as a major party.
Former First Minster Alex Salmond failed in his bid to return to the Scottish Parliament as the leader of the Alba party after losing out on the North East regional list.
