Historic win for SNP but change and challenges ahead at Holyrood

Historic win for SNP but change and challenges ahead at Holyrood16 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleJames CookScotland editorGetty ImagesDevolution was designed by Labour and delivered by Labour but the political era it ushered in has been dominated by the Scottish National Party.This was the seventh election since the creation of the modern Scottish Parliament in 1999 and the SNP's fifth victory in a row.As the sun dipped behind Holyrood at the end of a long day's counting, SNP leader John Swinney told me his party had won the election "hands down."Describing the margin of victory as "significant and emphatic," Swinney insisted "the public expectation" was now for him "to be returned as first minister and to lead a government."The SNP leader said he would work "to find common ground" with any party except Reform UK, which he described as having "completely different values" to his."People are feeling fragile. Times are tough. The world is a place in turmoil and I think what people want is a first minister who will bring people together," he told me.SNP wins fifth election but falls short of majority as Labour and Reform tie for secondScottish election 2026: Results in maps and chartsWhatever the outcome of those chats, it is clear that Swinney is comfortable with the idea of minority government and of negotiating with most rivals on an issue-by-issue basis.He is also well aware that the SNP's last power-sharing arrangement with the Scottish Greens ended in acrimony.As we spoke outside Holyrood, a small crowd holding saltires and placards had gathered calling for Scottish independence in word and song.The strains of Flower of Scotland could be heard drifting across the parliamentary pond.The singers will be heartened by the fact that there is – once again – a pro-independence majority here. It's comprised of 58 SNP MSPs and 15 jubilant Scottish Greens, a record hau...