Scotland’s Pro-Independence SNP Wins; Misses Out on Majority

The Scottish National Party secured a record fifth straight term in government but fell short of the majority that leader John Swinney said would have given him a mandate for a new referendum on Scotland leaving the UK.

The SNP won 58 seats, seven short of a majority. Labour, which after the 2024 UK general election had high hopes of mounting a serious challenge, was tied at 17 seats with Reform UK, for whom support surged north and south of the English border. The Greens won a record 15 seats and could form a powerful pro-independence bloc with the SNP.