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SNP and Labour make gains in Scottish elections Scottish council elections 2022: SNP and Labour make gains amid Tory losses
(32 minutes later)
Labour looks likely to overtake the Conservatives in the race for second place behind the SNPLabour 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.
Live coverage as the council results are announcedLive coverage as the council results are announced
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 and looks likely to 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.
Scotland councils scoreboardScotland councils scoreboard
Counting under way. After 24 of 32 councils declared. Counting under way. After 29 of 32 councils declared.
IndependentCouncils total 3Councils change 0Councillors total 139Councillors change -13 IndependentCouncils total 3Councils change 0Councillors total 140Councillors change -14
IndependentIndependent
Councils total 3Councils total 3
Councils change 0Councils change 0
Councillors total 139 Councillors total 140
Councillors change -13 Councillors change -14
Scottish National PartyCouncils total 1Councils change +1Councillors total 404Councillors change +23 Scottish National PartyCouncils total 1Councils change +1Councillors total 434Councillors change +23
Scottish National PartyScottish National Party
Councils total 1Councils total 1
Councils change +1Councils change +1
Councillors total 404 Councillors total 434
Councillors change +23Councillors change +23
LabourCouncils total 1Councils change +1Councillors total 247Councillors change +15 LabourCouncils total 1Councils change +1Councillors total 273Councillors change +19
LabourLabour
Councils total 1Councils total 1
Councils change +1Councils change +1
Councillors total 247 Councillors total 273
Councillors change +15 Councillors change +19
ConservativeCouncils total 0Councils change 0Councillors total 181Councillors change -53 ConservativeCouncils total 0Councils change 0Councillors total 196Councillors change -61
ConservativeConservative
Councils total 0Councils total 0
Councils change 0Councils change 0
Councillors total 181 Councillors total 196
Councillors change -53 Councillors change -61
Liberal DemocratCouncils total 0Councils change 0Councillors total 70Councillors change +17 Liberal DemocratCouncils total 0Councils change 0Councillors total 79Councillors change +20
Liberal DemocratLiberal Democrat
Councils total 0Councils total 0
Councils change 0Councils change 0
Councillors total 70 Councillors total 79
Councillors change +17 Councillors change +20
GreenCouncils total 0Councils change 0Councillors total 21Councillors change +11 GreenCouncils total 0Councils change 0Councillors total 32Councillors change +13
GreenGreen
Councils total 0Councils total 0
Councils change 0Councils change 0
Councillors total 21 Councillors total 32
Councillors change +11 Councillors change +13
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 19Councils change -2Councillors total -Councillors change - No Overall ControlCouncils total 24Councils change -2Councillors total -Councillors change -
No Overall ControlNo Overall Control
Councils total 19 Councils total 24
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.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.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.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.
Leader Anas Sarwar said the results were the best Scottish Labour had seen in a decade, and predicted his party would finish the day comfortably in second place across Scotland as a whole.
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 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 The Conservatives finished second last time - but are likely to finish third after their share of the vote dropped sharply in many areas
But the Conservatives have lost more than 50 seats so far, with their share of the vote falling by more than 10% in several wards.But the Conservatives have lost more than 50 seats so far, with their share of the vote falling by more than 10% in several wards.
Tory MSP Miles Briggs said he believed controversy over lockdown parties in Downing Street had played a part. Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said he was "deeply disappointed" by the results, which he said had seen the public send a clear message that "they are not happy with the prime minister, they are not happy with partygate".
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." He refused to call for Boris Johnson to resign, saying the situation in Ukraine called for stability in the UK government.
There was better news for the Conservatives in Moray, where they gained three seats to overtake the SNP as the largest party.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. We've got used to the SNP winning elections in Scotland. In this contest they continue to resist electoral gravity. The party is gaining seats and on course for an 11th successive national victory.
The island has returned a Conservative councillor - the Tory support having surged and SNP support tumbling, perhaps reflecting local concern over ferry services. They are not the only party with something to celebrate. After years of decline, Labour is also making gains including taking overall control of West Dunbartonshire council.
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. Labour has regained second place from the Conservatives, who are suffering significant losses and seem to be taking a bigger hit in Scotland than England.
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. Some Scottish Tories are blaming Boris Johnson and partygate, with others highlighting the Scottish party leader, Douglas Ross's flip-flop over whether the PM should resign.
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. The Liberal Democrats have also picked up seats as have the Greens who seem to have benefited from their power-sharing deal with the SNP in the Scottish government.
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.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.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 Liberal Democrats have also done better than expected, winning an additional 20 seats across the country so far, but Alex Salmond's Alba Party has failed to have any of its candidates elected.
The SNP's Susan Thomson was the first woman to be elected as a councillor in the Western Isles for five yearsThe 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.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.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.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.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.