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Counting under way in Scottish council elections Counting under way in Scottish council elections
(32 minutes later)
Counting has begun and the early results are being announced in the Scottish council elections. The early results are being announced in the Scottish council elections - with the Conservatives suffering big losses and Labour making gains.
More than 1,200 councillors will be elected across the country's 32 local authorities.More than 1,200 councillors will be elected across the country's 32 local authorities.
Each council is divided into smaller areas known as wards, with every ward electing between one and five councillors. Each council is divided into smaller areas known as wards, with every ward electing up to five councillors.
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.
No council has yet announced a full set of results - but the early results from individual wards suggest the Conservatives could be on course to lose some of the ground they gained in the last election in 2017.
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 BBC How to follow the election results on the BBCd
Labour - which finished third behind the SNP and Conservatives in 2017 - has been picking up seats from both of its two main rivals. The early indications suggest the Conservatives could suffer even bigger losses in Scotland than they have done in England.
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.
The Scottish Greens have won their first ever seat in the Scottish Borders and have recorded some strong early results elsewhere in the country.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.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.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.
Meanwhile, the SNP's Susan Thomson has been elected as the Western Isles' first female councillor in five years.Meanwhile, the SNP's Susan Thomson has been elected as the Western Isles' first female councillor in five years.
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 between midday and about 17:00.Councils are expected to confirm their final results between midday and 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.