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SNP and Labour makes gains in Scottish elections SNP and Labour make gains in Scottish elections
(32 minutes later)
Labour looks likely to overtake the Conservatives in the race for second place behind the SNP
Results are being announced in the Scottish council elections - with the Conservatives suffering losses and the SNP and Labour making gains.Results are being announced in the Scottish council elections - with the Conservatives suffering losses and the SNP and Labour making gains.
The SNP has secured an overall majority in Dundee, while Labour has won control of West Dunbartonshire.The SNP has secured an overall majority in Dundee, while Labour has won control of West Dunbartonshire.
The early indications suggest the Tories could suffer even bigger losses in Scotland than they have in England.The early indications suggest the Tories could suffer even bigger losses in Scotland than they have in England.
More than 1,200 councillors are being elected across the country's 32 councils.More than 1,200 councillors are being elected across the country's 32 councils.
Each council is divided into smaller areas known as wards, with every ward electing up to five councillors.Each council is divided into smaller areas known as wards, with every ward electing up to five councillors.
Votes being counted after Scottish council electionVotes being counted after Scottish council election
A simple guide to the Scottish council electionsA simple guide to the Scottish council elections
How to follow the election results on the BBCHow to follow the election results on the BBC
These councillors will have control of education, social care and other key local services.These councillors will have control of education, social care and other key local services.
Counting began on Friday morning at centres in each local authority area.Counting began on Friday morning at centres in each local authority area.
Labour - which finished third behind the SNP and Conservatives in 2017 - has been picking up seats from both of its two main rivals, and could overtake the Tories in the battle for second place this time. Labour - which finished third behind the SNP and Conservatives in 2017 - has been picking up seats and looks likely to overtake the Tories in the battle for second place this time.
The party has won an overall majority in West Dunbartonshire, where the SNP had previously been the largest party and had formed the administration, after returning 12 councillors, four more than previously.
No party held a majority in any local authority area in Scotland after the last election.
The Conservatives finished second last time - but have seen their share of the vote drop sharply in many areas this time around
Labour is also aiming to overtake the SNP as the largest party in Glasgow after picking up seats in the early results, but it is unclear whether it will be able to do so.
The SNP has recorded strong results in many areas of the country and will again finish with the most councillors overall, with the party gaining four seats in Angus to become the largest party from Labour.
But the Conservatives have seen their share of the vote fall by more than 10% in several wards, with Tory MSP Miles Briggs saying he believed controversy over lockdown parties in Downing Street had played a part.
He added: "You can't deny that and I think speaking to people yesterday they certainly weren't happy with the actions of the prime minister and his team."
There was better news for the Conservatives in Moray, where they gained three seats to overtake the SNP as the largest party.
The early story of this election has been the fall in the Conservative vote - and the resulting revival of Labour.
The Tories have collapsed to the point of losing a seat to the British Unionist Party in North Lanarkshire, and the outstanding question is who will profit the most from their losses.
The SNP are still in a strong position, but it is Labour who are making the biggest gains, particularly in the west of Scotland.
The party has taken overall control of West Dunbartonshire Council - a significant feat under the STV system. In 2017, no party won a majority in any of Scotland's 32 councils.
Meanwhile the Greens and Lib Dems are celebrating advances of their own - again often at the expense of Conservatives.
The Scottish Greens have won their first ever seat in the Scottish Borders and have recorded some strong early results elsewhere in the country.
Green candidate Holly Bruce finished first in the ward of the SNP's Susan Aitken, who was the Glasgow City Council leader - although Ms Aitken was also elected after finishing with the second-highest number of first preference votes.
Elections expert Prof Sir John Curtice said the Liberal Democrats could also be set to do better than expected - but the early signs were that Alex Salmond's Alba Party would fail to make a breakthrough.
The SNP's Susan Thomson was the first woman to be elected as a councillor in the Western Isles for five years
Meanwhile, the SNP's Susan Thomson was elected as the Western Isles' first female councillor in five years - before being joined shortly after by fellow SNP member Frances Murray.
Unlike in other elections in Scotland, voters were asked to rank the candidates in order of preference using numbers - using an electoral system called the Single Transferable Vote.
These ballot papers will be scanned by machines, which will count the votes and apply a mathematical formula to decide which councillors will be elected.
Where a machine is unable to read the vote on a ballot paper, it will be sent for adjudication by count staff who will try to work out who the person wanted to vote for. If the presiding officer cannot be sure who the voter wanted to vote for, their ballot will be rejected.
Scotland councils scoreboardScotland councils scoreboard
Counting under way. After 18 of 32 councils declared.Counting under way. After 18 of 32 councils declared.
IndependentCouncils total 3Councils change 0Councillors total 133Councillors change -12 IndependentCouncils total 3Councils change 0Councillors total 136Councillors change -13
IndependentIndependent
Councils total 3Councils total 3
Councils change 0Councils change 0
Councillors total 133 Councillors total 136
Councillors change -12 Councillors change -13
Scottish National PartyCouncils total 1Councils change +1Councillors total 336Councillors change +21 Scottish National PartyCouncils total 1Councils change +1Councillors total 367Councillors change +20
Scottish National PartyScottish National Party
Councils total 1Councils total 1
Councils change +1Councils change +1
Councillors total 336 Councillors total 367
Councillors change +21 Councillors change +20
LabourCouncils total 1Councils change +1Councillors total 203Councillors change +14 LabourCouncils total 1Councils change +1Councillors total 222Councillors change +15
LabourLabour
Councils total 1Councils total 1
Councils change +1Councils change +1
Councillors total 203 Councillors total 222
Councillors change +14 Councillors change +15
ConservativeCouncils total 0Councils change 0Councillors total 156Councillors change -48 ConservativeCouncils total 0Councils change 0Councillors total 169Councillors change -50
ConservativeConservative
Councils total 0Councils total 0
Councils change 0Councils change 0
Councillors total 156 Councillors total 169
Councillors change -48 Councillors change -50
Liberal DemocratCouncils total 0Councils change 0Councillors total 60Councillors change +15 Liberal DemocratCouncils total 0Councils change 0Councillors total 68Councillors change +17
Liberal DemocratLiberal Democrat
Councils total 0Councils total 0
Councils change 0Councils change 0
Councillors total 60 Councillors total 68
Councillors change +15 Councillors change +17
GreenCouncils total 0Councils change 0Councillors total 18Councillors change +10 GreenCouncils total 0Councils change 0Councillors total 20Councillors change +11
GreenGreen
Councils total 0Councils total 0
Councils change 0Councils change 0
Councillors total 18 Councillors total 20
Councillors change +10 Councillors change +11
Post-election VacancyCouncils total 0Councils change 0Councillors total 3Councillors change 0Post-election VacancyCouncils total 0Councils change 0Councillors total 3Councillors change 0
Post-election VacancyPost-election Vacancy
Councils total 0Councils total 0
Councils change 0Councils change 0
Councillors total 3Councillors total 3
Councillors change 0Councillors change 0
No Overall ControlCouncils total 13Councils change -2Councillors total -Councillors change -No Overall ControlCouncils total 13Councils change -2Councillors total -Councillors change -
No Overall ControlNo Overall Control
Councils total 13Councils total 13
Councils change -2Councils change -2
Councillors total -Councillors total -
Councillors change -Councillors change -
The party has won an overall majority in West Dunbartonshire, where the SNP had previously been the largest party and had formed the administration, after returning 12 councillors, four more than previously.
No party held a majority in any local authority area in Scotland after the last election.
Labour is also aiming to overtake the SNP as the largest party in Glasgow after picking up seats in the early results, but it is unclear whether it will be able to do so.
The SNP has recorded strong results in many areas of the country and will again finish with the most councillors overall, with the party winning 15 of the 29 seats in Dundee and gaining four seats in neighbouring Angus to become the largest party from Labour.
The Conservatives finished second last time - but have seen their share of the vote drop sharply in many areas this time around
But the Conservatives have seen their share of the vote fall by more than 10% in several wards, with Tory MSP Miles Briggs saying he believed controversy over lockdown parties in Downing Street had played a part.
He added: "You can't deny that and I think speaking to people yesterday they certainly weren't happy with the actions of the prime minister and his team."
There was better news for the Conservatives in Moray, where they gained three seats to overtake the SNP as the largest party.
It is sometimes said that the isle of Arran is Scotland in miniature, but not in this election. Far from it.
The island has returned a Conservative councillor - the Tory support having surged and SNP support tumbling, perhaps reflecting local concern over ferry services.
The result is an exception. Nationally, the SNP have made gains at this stage and are on course to finish first, potentially doing better than in 2017.
After long years in the doldrums, Labour is picking up seats. They have taken control of West Dunbartonshire and seem set to regain second place overall from the Tories.
It would always have been difficult for the Tories to repeat their spectacular success in 2017, but they appear to be taking a bigger hit in these elections in Scotland than the party is suffering in England.
Some will blame Boris Johnson and Partygate or the cost-of-living crisis. Others point the finger at the Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross for backing the prime minister having previously called for him to quit.
The Scottish Greens have won their first ever seat in the Scottish Borders and have recorded some strong results elsewhere in the country.
Green candidate Holly Bruce finished first in the ward of the SNP's Susan Aitken, who was the Glasgow City Council leader - although Ms Aitken was also elected after finishing with the second-highest number of first preference votes.
Elections expert Prof Sir John Curtice said the Liberal Democrats are also doing better than expected - but Alex Salmond's Alba Party has so far failed to make a breakthrough.
The SNP's Susan Thomson was the first woman to be elected as a councillor in the Western Isles for five years
Meanwhile, the SNP's Susan Thomson was elected as the Western Isles' first female councillor in five years - before being joined shortly after by fellow SNP member Frances Murray.
Unlike in other elections in Scotland, voters were asked to rank the candidates in order of preference using numbers - using an electoral system called the Single Transferable Vote.
These ballot papers will be scanned by machines, which will count the votes and apply a mathematical formula to decide which councillors will be elected.
Where a machine is unable to read the vote on a ballot paper, it will be sent for adjudication by count staff who will try to work out who the person wanted to vote for. If the presiding officer cannot be sure who the voter wanted to vote for, their ballot will be rejected.
Councils are expected to confirm their final results by about 17:00.Councils are expected to confirm their final results by about 17:00.
Although the number of councillors elected for each party will likely be known by teatime on Friday, it will probably be next week before it becomes clear who will have control over certain councils.Although the number of councillors elected for each party will likely be known by teatime on Friday, it will probably be next week before it becomes clear who will have control over certain councils.
This is because often no party wins a majority of seats on a council and so groups of councillors work together to form coalitions. It can take a few days for these arrangements to be made.This is because often no party wins a majority of seats on a council and so groups of councillors work together to form coalitions. It can take a few days for these arrangements to be made.
After the 2017 election, no single party had a majority of seats in any Scottish council - so all were either run by a coalition or a minority administration.After the 2017 election, no single party had a majority of seats in any Scottish council - so all were either run by a coalition or a minority administration.
Local elections were also held in England and Wales on Thursday, and voters in Northern Ireland were being asked to elect their next government.Local elections were also held in England and Wales on Thursday, and voters in Northern Ireland were being asked to elect their next government.
Where to follow the resultsWhere to follow the results
Journalists will be reporting from around the country as the compositions of the councils become clear.Journalists will be reporting from around the country as the compositions of the councils become clear.
You can also follow all the results as they come in on BBC Scotland news website and on Twitter.You can also follow all the results as they come in on BBC Scotland news website and on Twitter.
On TV, Reporting Scotland will have the latest at 13:30, 18:30 and 22:30 on BBC One Scotland.On TV, Reporting Scotland will have the latest at 13:30, 18:30 and 22:30 on BBC One Scotland.
And The Seven will be on the BBC Scotland channel at 19:00.And The Seven will be on the BBC Scotland channel at 19:00.
On BBC Radio Scotland there'll be in-depth reports and analysis on Good Morning Scotland, 06:00-09:00, Lunchtime Live, 12:00-13:30 and Drivetime, 16:00-18:00.On BBC Radio Scotland there'll be in-depth reports and analysis on Good Morning Scotland, 06:00-09:00, Lunchtime Live, 12:00-13:30 and Drivetime, 16:00-18:00.