Led by First Minister John Swinney, the SNP won 58 of the 129 seats at Holyrood, remaining the largest party but falling short of the 65 seats needed for a majority. According to the parliament, the result allows the SNP to stay in government, but Swinney will need support from other parties to pass key legislation.
The Scottish Greens made record gains, winning 15 seats. Scottish Labor won 17 seats, the same as Reform UK, in a disappointing result after Labor’s recovery in Scotland at the 2024 general election. The Conservatives suffered a sharp setback, falling to 12 seats, while the Liberal Democrats took 10.
Reform UK's breakthrough was one of the most notable developments of the election, showing that voter frustration with established parties was spreading beyond England and into Scottish politics.
"Reform has certainly changed the discussion because they're a new player and they're influencing all elements of the UK, but especially in Scotland," Murray Leith, an expert in political science at the University of the West of Scotland, told Xinhua.
The Scottish Parliament election was held alongside local council and mayoral elections in England and the election of Senedd Cymru, the Welsh parliament, all of which took place on Thursday. In Wales, Plaid Cymru has become the largest party, ending Labor’s long dominance.