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Counting under way in Scottish council elections Early Labour gains in Scottish council elections
(32 minutes later)
The early results are being announced in the Scottish council elections - with the Conservatives suffering big losses and Labour making gains.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. Labour has won overall control of West Dunbartonshire, and has picked up seats in Glasgow.
The early indications suggest the Tories could suffer bigger losses in Scotland than they have done in England.
More than 1,200 councillors will be elected across the 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.
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.
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 BBCdHow to follow the election results on the BBCd
The early indications suggest the Conservatives could suffer even bigger losses in Scotland than they have done in England. 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.
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 from both of its two main rivals, and could overtake the Tories in the battle for second place this time.
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.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. Scotland councils scoreboard
Counting under way. After 5 of 32 councils declared.
IndependentCouncils total 2Councils change 0Councillors total 86Councillors change -11
Independent
Councils total 2
Councils change 0
Councillors total 86
Councillors change -11
LabourCouncils total 1Councils change +1Councillors total 97Councillors change +9
Labour
Councils total 1
Councils change +1
Councillors total 97
Councillors change +9
Scottish National PartyCouncils total 0Councils change 0Councillors total 163Councillors change +8
Scottish National Party
Councils total 0
Councils change 0
Councillors total 163
Councillors change +8
ConservativeCouncils total 0Councils change 0Councillors total 78Councillors change -22
Conservative
Councils total 0
Councils change 0
Councillors total 78
Councillors change -22
Liberal DemocratCouncils total 0Councils change 0Councillors total 24Councillors change +7
Liberal Democrat
Councils total 0
Councils change 0
Councillors total 24
Councillors change +7
GreenCouncils total 0Councils change 0Councillors total 13Councillors change +8
Green
Councils total 0
Councils change 0
Councillors total 13
Councillors change +8
Residents' AssociationCouncils total 0Councils change 0Councillors total 1Councillors change +1
Residents' Association
Councils total 0
Councils change 0
Councillors total 1
Councillors change +1
Post-election VacancyCouncils total 0Councils change 0Councillors total 3Councillors change 0
Post-election Vacancy
Councils total 0
Councils change 0
Councillors total 3
Councillors change 0
No Overall ControlCouncils total 2Councils change -1Councillors total -Councillors change -
No Overall Control
Councils total 2
Councils change -1
Councillors total -
Councillors change -
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.