Election

Scottish Parliament election, 2026

The SNP won 58 of 129 seats and, with the Scottish Greens, formed a pro-independence majority of 73 MSPs.

What happened

The SNP won 58 seats, Labour and Reform UK 17 each, the Scottish Greens 15, the Conservatives 12 and the Liberal Democrats 10.[1] The SNP was short of a majority, but the two pro-independence parties held 73 seats.[2] Turnout fell to 53.2%.[3]

On 26 May 2026 the new Parliament voted 72 to 55 to call for a section 30 order.[4]

Sources for this page

Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.

  1. 1.

    Claim: At the Scottish Parliament election of 7 May 2026 the SNP won 58 seats, Labour 17, Reform UK 17, the Scottish Greens 15, the Conservatives 12 and the Liberal Democrats 10.

    • Scottish Parliament, 2026 Election Results (Scottish Parliament) link, Party seat totals. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
  2. 2.

    Claim: The SNP fell short of the 65 seats needed for a majority, but the SNP and Greens together held 73 seats.

    • McKay, Sarah; McIver, Iain and Aiton, Andrew, The results are in – general election 2026 (Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe), 9 May 2026) link, The make-up of the Session 7 Parliament. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
  3. 3.

    Claim: Constituency turnout in 2026 was 53.2%, down from 63.5% in 2021.

    • McKay, Sarah; McIver, Iain and Aiton, Andrew, The results are in – general election 2026 (Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe), 9 May 2026) link, Turnout. Government perspective or primary official source Source record
  4. 4.

    Claim: On 26 May 2026 the Scottish Parliament agreed, by 72 votes to 55, a motion calling on the UK Government to make a section 30 order devolving the power to hold an independence referendum.

    • Scottish Parliament, Motion S7M-00105: Ambitious for Scotland (Scottish Parliament, Lodged 20 May 2026; taken in the Chamber 26 May 2026) link, Motion as amended; vote. Government perspective or primary official source Source record

Source note

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