This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-61341059

The article has changed 25 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 16 Version 17
Scottish council elections 2022: SNP finishes as biggest party Scottish council elections 2022: SNP finishes as biggest party
(32 minutes later)
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon celebrated the party's success with candidates and supporters in Glasgow
The SNP has again finished as the biggest party in the Scottish council elections - with Labour finishing second after the Conservatives suffered big losses.The SNP has again finished as the biggest party in the Scottish council elections - with Labour finishing second after the Conservatives suffered big losses.
The SNP secured an overall majority in Dundee, while Labour won control of West Dunbartonshire.The SNP secured an overall majority in Dundee, while Labour won control of West Dunbartonshire.
But the Conservatives lost more than 60 councillors across the country.But the Conservatives lost more than 60 councillors across the country.
Party leader Douglas Ross said he believed public anger over partygate had played a big part.Party leader Douglas Ross said he believed public anger over partygate had played a big part.
More than 1,200 councillors have been elected across the country's 32 councils.More than 1,200 councillors have been 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 announced Live reaction and analysis of the election results
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
The SNP recorded strong results in many areas of the country, increasing its total number of councillors by 23 to 454. The SNP recorded strong results in many areas of the country, increasing its total number of councillors by 22 to 453.
The party won 15 of the 29 seats to take control of Dundee and gained four seats in neighbouring Angus to become the largest party from Labour.The party won 15 of the 29 seats to take control of Dundee and gained four seats in neighbouring Angus to become the largest party from Labour.
Labour - which finished third behind the SNP and Conservatives in 2017 - picked up an additional 19 seats and finished well ahead of the Tories by 281 seats to 215. SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, the country's first minister, said the result was a "quite incredible outcome" for her party after 15 years in government.
She added: "We have not only won the election - an eighth consecutive election victory since I've been leader - but won it overwhelmingly. I think we're going to end up 12 to 13 points ahead of our nearest rival.
"We have increased our share of the vote and the number of councillors we have and I think we're going to be the largest party in more councils than before."
Scotland councils scoreboardScotland councils scoreboard
Counting complete. After 32 of 32 councils declared.Counting complete. After 32 of 32 councils declared.
IndependentCouncils total 3Councils change 0Councillors total 152Councillors change -15IndependentCouncils total 3Councils change 0Councillors total 152Councillors change -15
IndependentIndependent
Councils total 3Councils total 3
Councils change 0Councils change 0
Councillors total 152Councillors total 152
Councillors change -15Councillors change -15
Scottish National PartyCouncils total 1Councils change +1Councillors total 454Councillors change +23 Scottish National PartyCouncils total 1Councils change +1Councillors total 453Councillors change +22
Scottish National PartyScottish National Party
Councils total 1Councils total 1
Councils change +1Councils change +1
Councillors total 454 Councillors total 453
Councillors change +23 Councillors change +22
LabourCouncils total 1Councils change +1Councillors total 281Councillors change +19 LabourCouncils total 1Councils change +1Councillors total 282Councillors change +20
LabourLabour
Councils total 1Councils total 1
Councils change +1Councils change +1
Councillors total 281 Councillors total 282
Councillors change +19 Councillors change +20
ConservativeCouncils total 0Councils change 0Councillors total 215Councillors change -62 ConservativeCouncils total 0Councils change 0Councillors total 214Councillors change -63
ConservativeConservative
Councils total 0Councils total 0
Councils change 0Councils change 0
Councillors total 215 Councillors total 214
Councillors change -62 Councillors change -63
Liberal DemocratCouncils total 0Councils change 0Councillors total 87Councillors change +20Liberal DemocratCouncils total 0Councils change 0Councillors total 87Councillors change +20
Liberal DemocratLiberal Democrat
Councils total 0Councils total 0
Councils change 0Councils change 0
Councillors total 87Councillors total 87
Councillors change +20Councillors change +20
GreenCouncils total 0Councils change 0Councillors total 34Councillors change +15 GreenCouncils total 0Councils change 0Councillors total 35Councillors change +16
GreenGreen
Councils total 0Councils total 0
Councils change 0Councils change 0
Councillors total 34 Councillors total 35
Councillors change +15 Councillors change +16
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 27Councils change -2Councillors total -Councillors change -No Overall ControlCouncils total 27Councils change -2Councillors total -Councillors change -
No Overall ControlNo Overall Control
Councils total 27Councils total 27
Councils change -2Councils change -2
Councillors total -Councillors total -
Councillors change -Councillors change -
Labour - which finished third behind the SNP and Conservatives in 2017 - picked up an additional 20 seats and finished well ahead of the Tories on 282 seats to 214.
The party 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 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 had been aiming to overtake the SNP as the largest party in Glasgow after picking up seats in the early results, but was unable to do so. Labour had been aiming to overtake the SNP as the largest party in Glasgow after picking up seats in the early results, but fell one seat short - with the SNP on 37 and Labour 36.
Leader Anas Sarwar said the results were the best Scottish Labour had seen in a decade, with his party finishing the day "comfortably" in second place across Scotland as a whole.Leader Anas Sarwar said the results were the best Scottish Labour had seen in a decade, with his party finishing the day "comfortably" in second place across Scotland as a whole.
The Conservatives finished second last time - but are likely to finish third after their share of the vote dropped sharply in many areas The Conservatives finished second last time - but finished well behind Labour in third place this time
But the Conservatives have lost 62 seats, with their share of the vote falling by more than 10% in several wards. But the Conservatives have lost 63 seats, with their share of the vote falling by more than 10% in several wards.
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".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 refused to call for Boris Johnson to resign, saying the situation in Ukraine called for stability in the UK government.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.
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. We've got used to the SNP winning elections in Scotland. In this contest they continue to resist electoral gravity. The party has seats and has won an 11th successive national victory.
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. They are not the only party with something to celebrate. After years of decline, Labour has also made gains including taking overall control of West Dunbartonshire council.
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. Labour has regained second place from the Conservatives, who have suffered significant losses and seem to be taking a bigger hit in Scotland than England.
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.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.
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.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.
The Scottish Greens have won their first ever seat in the Scottish Borders and almost doubled their total number of councillors to 34. The Scottish Greens have won their first ever seat in the Scottish Borders and almost doubled their total number of councillors across the country to 35
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.
The Liberal Democrats have also done better than expected, winning an additional 20 seats across the country to take their total to 87, but Alex Salmond's Alba Party failed to have any of its candidates elected.The Liberal Democrats have also done better than expected, winning an additional 20 seats across the country to take their total to 87, but Alex Salmond's Alba Party 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 years Labour leader Anas Sarwar said his party's result was its best in a decade
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 were scanned by machines, which counted the votes and applied a mathematical formula to decide which councillors were elected.These ballot papers were scanned by machines, which counted the votes and applied a mathematical formula to decide which councillors were elected.
Although the number of councillors elected for each party is now known, it will probably be next week before it becomes clear who will have control over most councils.Although the number of councillors elected for each party is now known, it will probably be next week before it becomes clear who will have control over most councils.
This is because no party has won a majority of seats 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 no party has won a majority of seats and so groups of councillors work together to form coalitions. It can take a few days for these arrangements to be made.
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.