2021 Scottish Parliament election explained

Election Name:	2021 Scottish Parliament election
Country:	Scotland
Type:	parliamentary
Ongoing:	no
Previous Election:	2016 Scottish Parliament election
Previous Year:	2016
Outgoing Members:	5th Scottish Parliament
Elected Members:	6th Scottish Parliament
Next Election:	Next Scottish Parliament election
Next Year:	Next
Seats For Election:	All 129 seats to the Scottish Parliament
Majority Seats:	65
Opinion Polls:	Opinion polling for the 2021 Scottish Parliament election
1Blank:	Constituency vote
2Blank:	% and swing
3Blank:	Regional vote
4Blank:	% and swing
Turnout:	Constituency – 63.5% 7.7pp Regional – 63.5% 7.7pp
Leader1:	Nicola Sturgeon
Leader Since1:	14 November 2014
Party1:	Scottish National Party
Leaders Seat1:	Glasgow Southside
Last Election1:	63 seats
Seats Before1:	61
Seats1:	64
Seat Change1:	1
1Data1:	1,291,204
2Data1:	47.7% 1.2%
3Data1:	1,094,374
4Data1:	40.3% 1.4%
Leader2:	Douglas Ross
Party2:	Scottish Conservatives
Leaders Seat2:	Highlands and Islands
Leader Since2:	5 August 2020
Last Election2:	31 seats
Seats Before2:	30
Seats2:	31
1Data2:	592,526
2Data2:	21.9% 0.1%
3Data2:	637,131
4Data2:	23.5% 0.6%
Leader3:	Anas Sarwar
Party3:	Scottish Labour
Leaders Seat3:	Glasgow
Leader Since3:	27 February 2021
Last Election3:	24 seats
Seats Before3:	23
Seats3:	22
Seat Change3:	2
1Data3:	584,392
2Data3:	21.6% 1.0%
3Data3:	485,819
4Data3:	17.9% 1.2%
Party4:	Scottish Greens
Leader Since4:	1 August 2019 (Slater) / 22 November 2008 (Harvie)
Leaders Seat4:	Lothian (Slater) / Glasgow (Harvie)
Last Election4:	6 seats
Seats Before4:	5
Seats4:	8
Seat Change4:	2
1Data4:	34,990
2Data4:	1.3% 0.7%
3Data4:	220,324
4Data4:	8.1% 1.5%
Leader5:	Willie Rennie
Party5:	Scottish Liberal Democrats
Leaders Seat5:	North East Fife
Last Election5:	5 seats
Seats Before5:	5
Seats5:	4
Seat Change5:	1
1Data5:	187,816
2Data5:	6.9% 0.9%
3Data5:	137,151
4Data5:	5.1% 0.1%
Map Size:	450px
First Minister
Posttitle:	First Minister after election
Before Election:	Nicola Sturgeon
Before Party:	Scottish National Party
After Election:	Nicola Sturgeon
After Party:	Scottish National Party

The 2021 Scottish Parliament election took place on 11 May 2021,^[1] under the provisions of the Scotland Act 1998. All 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament were elected in the sixth election since the parliament was re-established in 1999. The election was held alongside the Senedd election in Wales, English local elections, London Assembly and mayoral election and the Hartlepool by-election.

The election campaign started on 25 March 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland. Parliament was officially dissolved on 5 May, the day before the election.^[2] The main parties fielding candidates were: the Scottish National Party (SNP), led by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon; the Scottish Conservatives, led by Douglas Ross; Scottish Labour, led by Anas Sarwar; the Scottish Liberal Democrats, led by Willie Rennie, and the Scottish Greens, jointly led Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater. Of those five parties, three had changed their leader since the 2016 election.

Newer parties set up since the 2016 election included: Reform UK Scotland, led by Michelle Ballantyne; the Alba Party, led by former First Minister and SNP leader Alex Salmond; and All for Unity, led by George Galloway. These parties only competed for seats on the regional lists. They all failed to win any seats.

The election resulted in the SNP winning a fourth consecutive term in government. They won 64 seats, a net increase of one. The SNP gained Edinburgh Central, Ayr, and East Lothian, as well as winning the largest share of the popular vote and the largest number of constituency seats in any Scottish Parliament election (62).^[3] The Greens won eight seats, their best result to date at a Scottish Parliament election, while the Conservatives retained second place with 31 seats. Labour had its worst-ever result with 22 seats, and the lowest share of the vote in both constituency and list votes for either Westminster or Holyrood since 1910. The Liberal Democrats (Lib Dems) also had their worst showing at a Holyrood election to date, winning only four seats.^[4]

The SNP and the Greens, both of which support Scottish independence, won 72 of the 129 seats in the parliament. Unionist parties (that is, those against independence) achieved a small majority of votes in constituency contests, whilst pro-independence parties achieved a small majority in the regional lists.^[5] The turnout was 63.5%, which is the highest ever at a Scottish Parliament election. Following the election, the third Sturgeon government was formed. It initially consisted of just the SNP, but later included Slater and Harvie of the Scottish Greens as junior ministers after the two parties negotiated a power-sharing agreement.^[6]

Background

Electoral events

2016 Scottish Parliament election

At the 2016 election, the ruling Scottish National Party (SNP) lost its parliamentary majority but was able to continue governing under Nicola Sturgeon as a minority administration.^[7] At the same election, the Conservatives overtook Labour to place second, whilst the Greens overtook the Liberal Democrats to place fourth.^[7] No representatives of minor parties were elected to the Parliament.^[7]

Other elections

Four further elections affecting Scotland took place between the 2016 and 2021 Scottish Parliament elections:

• May 2017: Scottish local government elections. The SNP retained its position as the largest party in terms of votes and councillors. The Conservatives displaced Labour as the second largest party, while the Liberal Democrats suffered a net loss of councillors despite increasing their share of the vote.^[8]
• June 2017: United Kingdom general election. The SNP lost 21 of its MPs, winning 35 seats. The Conservatives won 13 seats, with their highest vote share in any election in Scotland since 1979. Labour won seven seats, while the Liberal Democrats won four.^[9]
• May 2019: European Parliament election. This was dominated by the impending Brexit-deadline. The SNP won three of the six seats in Scotland, with the Brexit Party, Conservatives and Liberal Democrats each winning one seat.^[10]
• December 2019: United Kingdom general election. The SNP increased its share of the vote, reclaiming thirteen of the seats they lost in 2017. The Conservatives won six Scottish seats with a net lost of seven. The Liberal Democrats won four seats with no no net losses, but their leader, Jo Swinson, lost her own seat to the SNP. Labour was reduced to a single Scottish seat, a net loss of six.^[11]

Leadership changes

Three parties underwent leadership changes during the parliamentary term leading up to the election. In August 2017, Kezia Dugdale resigned as leader of Scottish Labour and was replaced by Richard Leonard.^[12] In January 2021, less than four months before the election, Leonard resigned.^[13] Anas Sarwar won the subsequent leadership election.^[14]

In August 2019, Lorna Slater and Patrick Harvie became co-leaders of the Scottish Greens.^[15]

Also in August 2019, Ruth Davidson resigned as leader of the Scottish Conservatives and was succeeded by Jackson Carlaw.^[16] Carlaw resigned as leader in July 2020,^[17] with Douglas Ross winning the subsequent leadership election unopposed.^[18]

Expansion of the electorate

This is the first election after the passage of the Scottish Elections (Franchise and Representation) Act, which extended the franchise to those serving prison sentences of 12 months or less.^{[19] [20]} In 2005, the United Kingdom was found in breach of Protocol 1, Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights in regards of prisoner voting rights in the European Court of Human Rights as a result of Hirst v United Kingdom (No 2); the Act brings Scotland in line with the court ruling.^[21]

This act also allows all foreign nationals resident in Scotland to vote and all those with indefinite leave to remain or equivalent status, including pre–settled status in the United Kingdom, to stand as candidates.^{[22] [23]} A BBC News report in April 2021 said that there were around 55,000 foreign nationals who had been given the right to vote as a result of these changes, including 20,000 refugees.^[23]

Date

Under the Scotland Act 1998, an ordinary general election to the Scottish Parliament would normally have been held on the first Thursday in May four years after the 2016 election, i.e. in May 2020.^[24] This would have clashed with the proposed date of a UK general election, although this became a moot point when a snap UK general election was held in June 2017 (a further UK general election was held in December 2019).^[25] In November 2015, the Scottish Government published a Scottish Elections (Dates) Bill, which proposed to extend the term of the Parliament to five years.^[25] That Bill was passed by the Scottish Parliament on 25 February 2016 and received Royal Assent on 30 March 2016, setting the new date for the election as 6 May 2021.^[1]

The Scottish Elections (Dates) Act did not affect the legal possibilities for the Parliament to be dissolved earlier, those being;

• That the date of the poll may be varied by up to one month either way by the monarch, on the proposal of the Presiding Officer.
• If Parliament itself resolves that it should be dissolved, with at least two-thirds of the Members (i.e. 86 Members) voting in favour, the Presiding Officer proposes a date for an extraordinary general election and the Parliament is dissolved by the monarch by royal proclamation.
• If Parliament fails to nominate one of its members to be First Minister within 28 days, irrespective of whether at the beginning or in the middle of a parliamentary term. Therefore, if the First Minister resigned, Parliament would then have 28 days to elect a successor and if no new First Minister was elected then the Presiding Officer would ask for Parliament to be dissolved. This process could also be triggered if the First Minister lost a vote of confidence by a simple majority, as they must then resign.

Nevertheless, no extraordinary general elections have been held to date. Any extraordinary general election would be in addition to the ordinary general elections, unless held less than six months before the due date of an ordinary general election, in which case it would supplant it. This would not affect the year in which the subsequent ordinary general election would be held.^[26]

On 16 November 2020, the Scottish General Election (Coronavirus) Bill was introduced. This draft legislation stated that while the next election was intended to be held on 6 May 2021, the Presiding Officer would gain the power to postpone the election by up to six months if the spread of COVID-19 made that date impractical.^[27] The bill also proposed to change the date of dissolution to the day before the election, meaning that the Parliament could be recalled during the election period.^[27] The bill was enacted and received Royal Assent on 29 January 2021.^[28] Parliament was in fact recalled on 12 April, to allow MSPs to mark the death of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.^[29]

Retiring MSPs

MSP	Constituency/Region	First elected	Party		Date announced
	Lothian	2011		Labour	^[30] ^[31]
	West Scotland	2011			^[32] ^[33]
	Highlands and Islands	2011		Green	^[34]
	Central Scotland	1999		Labour	^[35]
	Edinburgh Central	2011		Conservative	^[36]
	Stirling	1999		SNP	^[37]
	Uddingston and Bellshill	2011			^[38]
	Caithness, Sutherland and Ross	2016			^[39]
	Argyll and Bute	1999			^[40]
	Banffshire and Buchan Coast	2001
	Aberdeen Donside	2011		Independent	^[41]
	Clydesdale	2007		SNP	^[42]
	Central Scotland	2003		Conservative	^[43]
	Highlands and Islands	2007		Labour	^[44]
	Falkirk East	2011		SNP	^[45]
	East Lothian	1999		Labour	^[46]
	Glasgow	2016		Conservative	^[47]
	Clydebank and Milngavie	1999		SNP	^[48]
	East Kilbride	1999			^[49]
	Renfrewshire North and West	2011		Independent	^[50]
	Perthshire South and Kinross-shire	1999		SNP	^[51]
	Airdrie and Shotts	1999			^[52]
	Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley	2016			^[53]
	Glasgow Kelvin	1999			^[54]
	Aberdeen South and North Kincardine	2006			^[55]
	North East Scotland	2016		Conservative
		1999		Liberal Democrats
	West Scotland	1999		Presiding Officer	^[56]
	North East Scotland	2011		Labour	^[57]
		1999			^[58]
	Glasgow	1999			^[59]
	Central Scotland	2016		Conservative	^[60]
Bill Bowman	North East Scotland	2016			^[61]
Tom Mason		2017

James Dornan announced in February 2020 his intention to retire at the next Holyrood election,^[62] but reversed this decision some months later.^[63]

Parties

See also: List of political parties in Scotland.

The SNP, Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats fielded candidates in all 73 constituencies and all eight of the regional ballots.^[64] Five other parties contested both all eight regions and at least one constituency: the Scottish Greens (12 constituencies) the Scottish Libertarian Party (9), the Scottish Family Party (7), UKIP (5) and the Freedom Alliance (4). Four parties – Abolish the Scottish Parliament Party, Alba Party, All for Unity, and Reform UK – stood in all eight electoral regions, but did not contest any constituencies.

Six other parties contested some of the regions and at least one constituency: TUSC (3 regions and 3 constituencies), Restore Scotland (2 regions, 4 constituencies), Scotia Future (2 of each), the Communist Party of Britain (2 regions and 1 constituency), the Reclaim Party (1 of each) and the Vanguard Party (also 1 of each). Five other parties – Independent Green Voice (5 regions), Renew (5), the Social Democratic Party (2), Women's Equality (2) and Animal Welfare (1) – contested some of the regions, but not any constituencies.

The Scottish Socialist Party, which participated in the last election as part of the electoral alliance RISE – Scotland's Left Alliance, opted not to participate in this election, for the first time since its inception.

List of parties contesting all regional ballots

Name		Ideology	Leader(s)	2016 Scottish Parliament election result			Seats at dissolution
				Votes (%)		Seats
				Constituency	Regional
		Social democracy Scottish independence	Nicola Sturgeon MSP for Glasgow Southside	46.5	41.7
	Scottish Conservatives	Conservatism Unionism	Douglas Ross Not an MSP	22.0	22.9
	Scottish Labour	Social democracy Unionism	Anas Sarwar MSP for Glasgow region	22.6	19.1
	Scottish Greens	Green politics Scottish independence	Patrick Harvie (co-leader) MSP for Glasgow region	0.6	6.6
			Lorna Slater (co-leader) MSP for Lothian region
		Liberalism Federalism	Willie Rennie MSP for North East Fife	7.8	5.2
	Reform UK Scotland	Right-wing populism Euroscepticism	Michelle Ballantyne MSP for South Scotland region	–	–
	UKIP Scotland	Right-wing populism Anti-devolution	Donald Mackay^[65] Not an MSP	–	2.0
	Scottish Libertarian Party	Libertarianism Scottish independence	Tam Laird Not an MSP	0.0	0.1
	Scottish Family Party	Anti-abortion Social conservatism	Richard Lucas Not an MSP	–	–	Did not exist
	Alba Party	Scottish nationalism Scottish independence	Alex Salmond Not an MSP	–	–	Did not exist
			George Galloway Not an MSP	–	–	Did not exist
			John Mortimer Not an MSP	–	–	Did not exist

Election system, seats and regions

See main article: List of Scottish Parliament constituencies and electoral regions (2011–present). The total number of Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) elected to the Parliament is 129.

The Scottish Parliament uses an additional member system (AMS), designed to produce approximate proportional representation for each region. There are 8 regions, each sub-divided into smaller constituencies. There is a total of 73 constituencies. Each constituency elects one MSP by the plurality (first past the post) system of election. Each region elects 7 additional MSPs using an additional member system. A modified D'Hondt method, using the constituency results, is used to elect these additional MSPs.^{[66] [67]}

The boundaries of the 73 constituencies last changed as of the 2011 Scottish Parliament election, as did the configuration of the electoral regions used to elect "list" members of the Scottish Parliament.^[68] These revisions were the outcome of the First Periodical Review of the Scottish Parliament's constituencies and regions conducted by the Boundary Commission for Scotland; the Review was announced on 3 July 2007 and the Commission published its final report on 26 May 2010.

The Scottish Parliament constituencies have not been coterminous with Scottish Westminster constituencies since the 2005 general election, when the 72 former UK Parliament constituencies were replaced with a new set of 59, generally larger, constituencies (see Scottish Parliament (Constituencies) Act 2004). The size difference between Westminster and Holyrood boundaries was due to diverge further upon the implementation of the Sixth Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies, which has not been voted upon by Parliament. The 2023 Periodic Review of Westminster constituencies for a UK total of 650 MPs commenced in England in 2021 and will complete for the UK by 2023.

Campaign

The election campaign started on 25 March 2021. The Scottish Conservatives launched their campaign the same day, with a focus on promoting Scotland's recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.^[69]

On 26 March 2021, the Alba Party was publicly launched by former First Minister of Scotland and SNP leader, Alex Salmond.^{[70] [71] [72] [73]} The party announced plans to stand list-only candidates. Two sitting SNP MPs later defected to the Alba party.^[74] The Action for Independence party, which had intended to pursue a similar list-only strategy, announced they would stand down their candidates in favour of Alba.^[75] Sturgeon said she would refuse to have any dealings with Salmond unless he apologises to the women who had accused him of harassment.^[76]

BBC Scotland announced that it would broadcast two debates between the main parties' leaders; the first was aired on 30 March 2021 and was moderated by the corporation's Scotland editor Sarah Smith.^[77] The debate included key questions from the audience on the COVID-19 recovery, climate change, and a second referendum on Scottish independence. The second BBC debate was held on 4 May 2021 and was moderated by BBC Scotland's political editor Glenn Campbell.^[78]

Commercial broadcaster STV held their leaders' debate on 13 April, moderated by their political editor Colin Mackay.^{[79] [80] [81]} NUS Scotland held a debate on specifically on student issues which was moderated by NUS Scotland president, Matt Crilly on 20 April which featured the three main party leaders.

On 1 April, Planet Radio announced that their Clyde 2 station would be hosting a Leaders Phone-In with the main parties' leaders every Sunday before the election. Douglas Ross was the first to be interviewed on 4 April,^[82] with Willie Rennie following on 18 April. Whilst Nicola Sturgeon was set to be interviewed on 11 April, campaigning was delayed following the death of Prince Philip and her phone-in was instead held on 22 April. Patrick Harvie followed on 25 April; and Anas Sarwar had the final phone-in on 2 May.^[83]

Following Prince Philip's death on 9 April, the SNP, Conservatives, Labour, Greens and Liberal Democrats said they would suspend election campaigning until further notice.^{[84] [85] [86]} After discussion between the parties, they agreed to resume campaigning after a special parliamentary session on 12 April to make tributes and to pause activities again on the day of the funeral (17 April).^{[29] [87]}

Election debates

2021 Scottish Parliament election debates

Date	Organisers	Moderator(s)
			SNP	Conservatives	Labour	Greens	Lib Dems	Audience
30 March	BBC Scotland							Virtual	^[88]
13 April	STV	Colin Mackay							^[89]
20 April	NUS Scotland	Matt Crilly				S	S	Virtual	^[90]
22 April	BBC (Question Time Special)	Fiona Bruce	S					Virtual	^[91]
27 April	Channel 4 News	Krishnan Guru-Murthy							^[92]
4 May	BBC Scotland	Glenn Campbell							^[93]

Opinion polling

See main article: Opinion polling for the 2021 Scottish Parliament election. Graph of opinion poll results prior to the 2021 Scottish Parliament election. Trendlines are 30-day moving averages.

Key SNP – Scottish National Party
Conservative – Scottish Conservatives
Labour – Scottish Labour
Lib Dem – Scottish Liberal Democrats
Green – Scottish Greens
UKIP – UK Independence Party
Reform – Reform UK
SSP – Scottish Socialist Party
Alba – Alba Party
AFU – All for Unity

Target seats

Below are listed all the constituencies which required a swing of less than 5% from the 2016 result to change hands. The most marginal opportunity for the Greens was in Glasgow Kelvin, which they needed a 7.1% swing to gain. The Liberal Democrats' best bet was Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, which required a 6.1% swing. The SNP ended up holding both of these constituencies.

SNP targets

Rank	Constituency	Winning party in 2016		Swing to gain %	SNP's place in 2016	Result
1	Dumbarton		0.17	2nd
2	Edinburgh Central		0.90
3	Ayr		1.00
4	Aberdeenshire West		1.28
5	East Lothian		1.45
6	Edinburgh Southern		1.47
7	Dumfriesshire		1.70
8	Eastwood		2.22
9			2.27
10	Edinburgh Western		3.73

Conservative targets

Rank	Constituency	Winning party in 2016		Swing to gain %	Cons' place in 2016	Result
1	Perthshire South and Kinross-shire		1.97	2nd
2	Edinburgh Pentlands		3.68
3	Angus North and Mearns		4.21
4			4.26
5	Moray		4.30
6	Edinburgh Southern		4.74	3rd
7	Perthshire North		4.90	2nd		SNP hold

Labour targets

Rank	Constituency	Winning party in 2016		Swing to gain %	Labour's place in 2016	Result
1	Eastwood		2.56	3rd
2	Edinburgh Central		4.19	3rd

Results

See also: Results of the 2021 Scottish Parliament election.

Central Scotland

2021 Scottish Parliament election: Central Scotland constituencies

Constituency		Elected member	Result
	Airdrie and Shotts	Neil Gray	SNP hold
	Coatbridge and Chryston	Fulton MacGregor
	Cumbernauld and Kilsyth	Jamie Hepburn
	East Kilbride	Collette Stevenson
	Falkirk East	Michelle Thomson
	Falkirk West	Michael Matheson
	Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse	Christina McKelvie
	Motherwell and Wishaw	Clare Adamson
	Uddingston and Bellshill	Stephanie Callaghan

|-! colspan="2" style="width: 150px"|Party! Elected candidates! style="width: 40px"|Seats! style="width: 40px"|+/−! style="width: 50px"|Votes! style="width: 40px"|%! style="width: 40px"|+/−%|-

Glasgow

2021 Scottish Parliament election: Glasgow constituencies

Constituency		Elected member	Result
	Glasgow Anniesland	Bill Kidd	SNP hold
	Glasgow Cathcart	James Dornan
	Glasgow Kelvin	Kaukab Stewart
	Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn	Bob Doris
	Glasgow Pollok	Humza Yousaf
	Glasgow Provan	Ivan McKee
	Glasgow Shettleston	John Mason
	Glasgow Southside	Nicola Sturgeon
	Rutherglen	Clare Haughey

|-! colspan="2" style="width: 150px"|Party! Elected candidates! style="width: 40px"|Seats! style="width: 40px"|+/−! style="width: 50px"|Votes! style="width: 40px"|%! style="width: 40px"|+/−%|-

Highlands and Islands

2021 Scottish Parliament election: Highlands and Islands constituencies
Constituency		Elected member	Result
	Argyll and Bute	Jenni Minto	SNP hold
	Caithness, Sutherland and Ross	Maree Todd
	Inverness and Nairn	Fergus Ewing
	Moray	Richard Lochhead
	Na h-Eileanan an Iar	Alasdair Allan
	Orkney	Liam McArthur	Liberal Democrat hold
	Shetland	Beatrice Wishart
	Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch	Kate Forbes	SNP hold

|-! colspan="2" style="width: 150px"|Party! Elected candidates! style="width: 40px"|Seats! style="width: 40px"|+/−! style="width: 50px"|Votes! style="width: 40px"|%! style="width: 40px"|+/−%|-

Lothian

2021 Scottish Parliament election: Lothian constituencies
Constituency		Elected member	Result
		Angela Constance	SNP hold
	Edinburgh Central	Angus Robertson	SNP gain from Conservative
	Edinburgh Eastern	Ash Denham	SNP hold
	Edinburgh Northern and Leith	Ben Macpherson
	Edinburgh Pentlands	Gordon MacDonald
	Edinburgh Southern	Daniel Johnson	Labour hold
	Edinburgh Western	Alex Cole-Hamilton	Liberal Democrat hold
	Linlithgow	Fiona Hyslop	SNP hold
	Midlothian North and Musselburgh	Colin Beattie

|-! colspan="2" style="width: 150px"|Party! Elected candidates! style="width: 40px"|Seats! style="width: 40px"|+/−! style="width: 50px"|Votes! style="width: 40px"|%! style="width: 40px"|+/−%|-

Mid Scotland and Fife

2021 Scottish Parliament election: Mid Scotland and Fife constituencies
Constituency		Elected member	Result
	Clackmannanshire and Dunblane	Keith Brown	SNP hold
	Cowdenbeath	Annabelle Ewing
	Dunfermline	Shirley-Anne Somerville
	Kirkcaldy	David Torrance
	Mid Fife and Glenrothes	Jenny Gilruth
	North East Fife	Willie Rennie	Liberal Democrat hold
	Perthshire North	John Swinney	SNP hold
	Perthshire South and Kinross-shire	Jim Fairlie
	Stirling	Evelyn Tweed

|-! colspan="2" style="width: 150px"|Party! Elected candidates! style="width: 40px"|Seats! style="width: 40px"|+/−! style="width: 50px"|Votes! style="width: 40px"|%! style="width: 40px"|+/−%|-

North East Scotland

2021 Scottish Parliament election: North East Scotland constituencies
Constituency		Elected member	Result
	Aberdeen Central	Kevin Stewart	SNP hold
	Aberdeen Donside	Jackie Dunbar
	Aberdeen South and North Kincardine	Audrey Nicoll
	Aberdeenshire East	Gillian Martin
	Aberdeenshire West	Alexander Burnett	Conservative hold
	Angus North & Mearns	Mairi Gougeon	SNP hold
	Angus South	Graeme Dey
	Banffshire & Buchan Coast	Karen Adam
	Dundee City East	Shona Robison
	Dundee City West	Joe FitzPatrick

|-! colspan="2" style="width: 150px"|Party! Elected candidates! style="width: 40px"|Seats! style="width: 40px"|+/−! style="width: 50px"|Votes! style="width: 40px"|%! style="width: 40px"|+/−%|-

South Scotland

2021 Scottish Parliament election: South Scotland constituencies
Constituency		Elected member	Result
	Ayr	Siobhian Brown	SNP gain from Conservative
	Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley	Elena Whitham	SNP hold
	Clydesdale	Màiri McAllan
	Dumfriesshire	Oliver Mundell	Conservative hold
	East Lothian	Paul McLennan	SNP gain from Labour
	Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire	Rachael Hamilton	Conservative hold
	Galloway and West Dumfries	Finlay Carson
	Kilmarnock and Irvine Valley	Willie Coffey	SNP hold
	Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale	Christine Grahame

|-! colspan="2" style="width: 150px"|Party! Elected candidates! style="width: 40px"|Seats! style="width: 40px"|+/−! style="width: 50px"|Votes! style="width: 40px"|%! style="width: 40px"|+/−%|-

West Scotland

2021 Scottish Parliament election: West Scotland constituencies
Constituency		Elected member	Result
	Clydebank and Milngavie	Marie McNair	SNP hold
	Cunninghame North	Kenneth Gibson
	Cunninghame South	Ruth Maguire
	Dumbarton	Jackie Baillie	Labour hold
	Eastwood	Jackson Carlaw	Conservative hold
	Greenock and Inverclyde	Stuart McMillan	SNP hold
	Paisley	George Adam
	Renfrewshire North and West	Natalie Don
	Renfrewshire South	Tom Arthur
	Strathkelvin and Bearsden	Rona Mackay

|-! colspan="2" style="width: 150px"|Party! Elected candidates! style="width: 40px"|Seats! style="width: 40px"|+/−! style="width: 50px"|Votes! style="width: 40px"|%! style="width: 40px"|+/−%|-

Constituency seat changes compared to 2016

Gain! colspan="2"

Loss
Ayr		SNP		Conservative
East Lothian				Labour
Edinburgh Central				Conservative

MSPs who lost their seats

Party

Michelle Ballantyne^[94]	South Scotland		Reform
Claudia Beamish^[95]	South Scotland		Labour
Maurice Corry	West Scotland		Conservative
James Kelly^[96]	Glasgow		Labour
Gordon Lindhurst	Lothian		Conservative
Joan McAlpine^[97]	South Scotland		SNP
John Scott^[98]	Ayr		Conservative
Paul Wheelhouse	South Scotland		SNP
Andy Wightman^[99]	Lothian (contested Highlands and Islands)		Scottish Greens (contested as independent)

Analysis

The SNP won 64 seats, falling one seat short of an overall majority.^[100] Some commentators put this down to unionists voting tactically for Conservative, Labour and Lib Dem candidates.^{[101] [102]} According to psephologist John Curtice, "Denying the SNP an overall majority was, indeed, a collective effort – at least on the part of Unionist voters, who on the constituency ballot demonstrated a remarkable willingness to back whichever pro-Union party appeared to be best placed locally to defeat the SNP. [...] These patterns had a decisive impact on the outcome."^[103] This was apparent in seats like Dumbarton, where incumbent Labour MSP Jackie Baillie saw her 0.3% majority increased to 3.9%, whilst both the Conservative and Lib Dem vote share decreased.^[104]

In The National, Emer O'Toole questioned whether social media adverts with "a lack of transparency over funding" may have cost the SNP key seats as well.^[105] The day before the election, The Guardian reported that anti-independence groups and campaigners had "spent tens of thousands of pounds in the past week", including on Facebook adverts, calling for tactical voting to prevent the SNP getting a majority.^[106] One of these groups was Scotland Matters, whose founder, Professor Hugh Pennington said, "Across the country as a whole, tactical voting is obviously one of the ways forward to basically harm the SNP, not to put too fine a point on it."^[106]

Additionally, the Greens claimed that they may have been deprived of two seats because of Independent Green Voice (IGV), a far-right party which has nothing to do with the Scottish Greens (who support Scottish independence). IGV received nearly 10,000 votes, including 2,210 in Glasgow (where the Greens were 1,000 short of gaining a seat) and 1,690 in South Scotland (where the Greens fell 100 short). This potentially prevented pro-independence parties from having a 19-seat majority instead of 15 seats.^[107]

The Scottish and Welsh Election Studies 2021, revealed on 13 June, found that around a third of Scottish voters who decided to vote differently in the run-up to the election did so to stop another party, and that 90% of those who did this did so in a bid to prevent the SNP winning the seat. Rob Johns, Professor in Politics at the University of Essex, said: "[W]e found a lot more switching than we had expected. The polls had suggested that not much was changing and obviously the overall election result was almost eerily similar to 2016. That can mean that nobody has changed their mind or it can mean lots of people have changed their mind – but these have cancelled out as people have moved in opposing directions. We found there was quite a lot more of that than we had expected."^[108]

Voter demographics

Data from Savanta ComRes:^[109]

The 2021 Scottish Parliament constituency vote
Social group	SNP	Con	Lab	Lib Dem	Others
Total vote	48	22	18	5	7
Gender
Male	43	26	24	7	0
Female	52	16	24	5	3
Age
16–34	58	10	24	3	5
35–54	51	16	25	5	3
55+	38	31	22	9	0

Campaign spending

Party		Expenses^[110] ^[111]
	£1,468,343
	£1,359,435
	£1,176,410
	£434,354
	£231,902
	£214,371
	£54,504
	£32,908
	£29,620
	£13,753
	£10,199
	£8,230
	£7,387
	£6,420

Aftermath

Election of the First Minister
Ballot →		18 May 2021
Required majority →		50 out of 99 valid votes
Sources^[112]

Nicola Sturgeon was nominated as First Minister by a vote of the parliament on 18 May 2021.^[113] Her cabinet was approved by the parliament two days later and thus the Third Sturgeon government, a minority government, was formed.^[114]

On 3 August 2021, it was reported that a co-operation agreement between the SNP and the Greens was "on the brink of being finalised" and could see Green MSPs take ministerial positions in government.^[115] On 19 August, the power-sharing agreement between the two parties was announced.^[6] Under the terms of the agreement, the Greens have two MSPs appointed as junior ministers in the government who are invited to attend cabinet meetings when their portfolios are being discussed. The Greens signed up to the bulk of the SNP's policies, but in areas of disagreement such as international relations and fee-paying schools the two parties are free to publicly disagree.^[6] The agreement states that the Greens support the government on votes of confidence and supply.^[116]

A deal that would see Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater made ministers was revealed on 26 August, subject to being voted upon by Green Party members.^{[117] [118]} Two days later, members of both parties overwhelmingly voted in favour of the deal.^[119]

See also

Other elections in the UK which were held on the same day:

• 2021 London Assembly election
• 2021 London mayoral election
• 2021 Senedd election
• 2021 United Kingdom local elections

External links

• Election 2021 (on the Scottish Parliament website)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Scottish Elections (Dates) Act 2016 . legislation.gov.uk . 7 May 2016 . 25 October 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161025035903/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2016/13/enacted?view=plain . live .
2. News: Holyrood to stop sitting on March 25 ahead of Scottish election . Scott . Macnab . 5 February 2021 . . Edinburgh . 2021-03-25 . 16 February 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210216005550/https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/holyrood-stop-sitting-march-25-ahead-scottish-election-3124688 . live .
3. Web site: Scottish election 2021: Will the SNP win a majority? Seven key questions the Scottish Parliament vote will answer . Marlborough . Conor . Swanson . Ian . 6 May 2021 . MSN . 7 May 2021 . 7 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210507194142/https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/other/scottish-election-2021-will-the-snp-win-a-majority-seven-key-questions-the-scottish-parliament-vote-will-answer/ar-BB1goncs . live .
4. News: SNP win election one seat short of majority. 8 May 2021. BBC News. 9 May 2021. 13 February 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220213152016/https://www.bbc.com/news/live/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-56995136. live.
5. News: Tactical vote reinforces Scotland's great divide . John . Curtice . The Times . 10 May 2021 . 10 May 2021 . 7 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210607015137/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/tactical-vote-reinforces-scotlands-great-divide-vwtlwxstg . live .
6. News: SNP and Greens agree new power-sharing deal. 19 August 2021. BBC News. 19 August 2021. en. 24 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210824175752/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-58272209. live.
7. Web site: Holyrood 2016: SNP claims 'historic' win but no majority . BBC News . 6 May 2016 . 31 July 2020 . 17 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200917151419/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2016-scotland-36205187 . live .
8. Web site: Council election results: Sturgeon hails victory despite Tory surge . BBC News . 5 May 2017 . 31 July 2020 . 3 June 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170603133158/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-39806664 . live .
9. Web site: General election 2017: SNP lose a third of seats amid Tory surge . BBC News . 9 June 2017 . 31 July 2020 . 12 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200812103139/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-40192707 . live .
10. Web site: EU Elections 2019: SNP secures three seats as Labour vote collapses . BBC News . 27 May 2019 . 31 July 2020 . 27 May 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190527132204/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-48424055 . live .
11. Web site: Election results 2019: Boris Johnson returns to power with big majority . BBC News . 13 December 2019 . 31 July 2020 . 1 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200801172413/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election-2019-50765773 . live .
12. Web site: Richard Leonard wins Scottish Labour leadership in decisive victory. Carrell. Severin. 18 November 2017. The Guardian. 22 May 2020. 18 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171118120522/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/nov/18/richard-leonard-voted-scottish-labour-leader. live.
13. News: Richard Leonard quits as Scottish Labour leader . BBC News . 2021-01-14 . 2021-01-14 . en-GB . 14 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210114160849/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-55666234 . live .
14. News: Rodgers. Sienna. Anas Sarwar elected as new leader of Scottish Labour Party. 27 February 2021. LabourList. 10 May 2021. en-GB. 22 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210522125311/https://labourlist.org/2021/02/anas-sarwar-elected-as-new-leader-of-scottish-labour-party/. live.
15. News: Scottish Greens elect Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater as co-leaders. 1 August 2019. The Herald. 9 May 2021. 10 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210510143350/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17809713.scottish-greens-elect-patrick-harvie-lorna-slater-co-leaders/. live.
16. Web site: Jackson Carlaw elected leader of Scottish Conservatives . 2020-02-14 . Holyrood Website . 2020-05-22 . 11 March 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200311022857/https://www.holyrood.com/news/view,jackson-carlaw-elected-leader-of-scottish-conservatives_15118.htm . live .
17. Web site: Jackson Carlaw quits as Scottish Conservative leader . 2020-07-30 . HeraldScotland . 30 July 2020 . 31 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200731223707/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18618412.jackson-carlaw-quits-scottish-conservative-leader/ . live .
18. Web site: Douglas Ross confirmed as Scottish Conservative leader . BBC News . 23 August 2020 . 5 August 2020 . 5 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200805122907/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-53655975 . live .
19. Web site: MSPs back plans to give refugees in Scotland the vote. 2020-01-16. Holyrood Website. 2020-05-22. 18 January 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200118132907/https://www.holyrood.com/news/view,msps-back-plans-to-give-refugees-in-scotland-the-vote_14974.htm. live.
20. Web site: Scottish Elections (Franchise and Representation) Bill. Scottish Parliament. 31 July 2020. 21 July 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200721135119/https://beta.parliament.scot/bills/scottish-elections-franchise-and-representation-bill. live.
21. Web site: Prisoners' voting rights: developments since May 2015. House of Commons Library. Neil. Johnson. 2 April 2020. 31 July 2020. 17 July 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200717170120/https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-7461/. live.
22. Web site: Scottish Elections (Franchise and Representation) Bill – Explanatory Notes. Scottish Parliament. 31 July 2020. 30 May 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200530192101/https://beta.parliament.scot/-/media/files/legislation/bills/current-bills/scottish-elections-franchise-and-representation-scotland-bill/introduced/explanatory-notes-scottish-elections-franchise-and-representation-scotland-bill.pdf. live.
23. Web site: Scottish election 2021: Right to vote 'changes my life', says Syrian refugee . David . Shanks . BBC News . 23 April 2021 . 23 April 2021 . 22 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210422230303/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-56829089 . live .
24. Web site: Scotland Act 1998 – Section 2 Ordinary General Elections . Office of Public Sector Information . 10 May 2016 . 22 May 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160522091242/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/46/section/2 . live .
25. Web site: Scottish Elections (Dates) Bill published . Scottish Government . 18 November 2015 . 6 May 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160604112556/http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Scottish-Elections-Dates-Bill-published-1f67.aspx . 4 June 2016 . dead.
26. Web site: Scotland Act 1998 – Section 3 Extraordinary General Elections . Office of Public Sector Information . 8 May 2007 . 8 September 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090908085325/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/46/section/3 . live .
27. Web site: Scottish General Election (Coronavirus) Bill . Scottish Parliament . 17 November 2020 . 17 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201117090013/https://beta.parliament.scot/bills/scottish-general-election-coronavirus-bill . live .
28. Web site: Scottish General Election (Coronavirus) Act 2021 (asp 5): explanatory notes . TSO (The Stationery Office) . 9 May 2021 . 13 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220213152049/https://tsoshop.co.uk/product/9780105920441/Scottish-General-Election-Coronavirus-Act-2021-asp-5-explanatory-notes/ . live .
29. Web site: Scottish election 2021: Holyrood recalled as campaign paused after duke death . BBC News . 9 April 2021 . 10 April 2021 . 9 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210409193953/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-56689201 . live .
30. Web site: Holyrood 2021 election: Which MSPs are standing down? . . 30 November 2020 . 30 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210516214045/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-53903780 . 16 May 2021.
31. Web site: Two MSPs quit Scottish Labour front bench team . BBC News . 28 May 2019 . 9 November 2019 . 27 June 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190627155446/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-48435192 . live .
32. Web site: MSP Mary Fee to retire. 16 August 2019. Arran Banner. 23 August 2020. 10 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210510144804/https://www.arranbanner.co.uk/2019/08/16/msp-mary-fee-to-retire/. live.
33. MaryFeeMSP. 1159124606688661504. It has been an honour to be a Member of the Scottish Parliament and I am proud of the work I have done on equalities and for constituents in West Scotland. Thank you to every person I have worked with and to people in West Scotland for this fantastic opportunity to serve. Fee . Mary . Mary Fee . 7 August 2019.
34. News: John Finnie to stand down at 2021 Scottish Parliament election . Holyrood Magazine . Liam . Kirkaldy . 27 August 2019 . 14 October 2019 . 14 October 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191014111003/https://www.holyrood.com/news/view,john-finnie-to-stand-down-at-2021-scottish-parliament-election_10724.htm . live .
35. News: Central Scotland MSP to stand down from Scottish Parliament before next election. Daily Record. Judith. Tonner. 3 September 2019. 9 November 2019. 9 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191109211237/https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/central-scotland-msp-stand-down-19323179. live.
36. News: Ruth Davidson reveals she will not stand as an MSP again in 2021. Daily Record. Torcuil. Crichton. 22 November 2019. 27 November 2019. 27 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191127201412/https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/ruth-davidson-reveals-not-stand-20939026. live.
37. News: Bruce Crawford to step down at 2021 Scottish election . Holyrood Magazine . 18 February 2020 . 18 February 2020 . 18 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200218113805/https://www.holyrood.com/news/view,bruce-crawford-to-step-down-at-2021-scottish-election_15130.htm . live .
38. News: Nutt. Kathleen. SNP MP Richard Lyle to stand down ahead of 2021 election. The National. 20 February 2020. 25 February 2020. 25 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200225222431/https://www.thenational.scot/news/18247528.richard-lyle-rejects-don-corleone-comparison/. live.
39. News: Fourth SNP MSP quits at Holyrood election . Tom . Gordon . The Herald . 27 February 2020 . 27 February 2020 . 27 February 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200227115742/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18266025.fourth-snp-msp-quits-holyrood-election/ . live .
40. Web site: Two leading SNP figures to step down from Holyrood . BBC News . 1 March 2020 . 1 March 2020 . 1 March 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200301140523/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-51696368 . live .
41. Web site: Former minister Mark McDonald to stand down at next election . BBC News . 5 March 2020 . 6 March 2020 . 5 March 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200305220513/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-51761994 . live .
42. Web site: SNP minister Aileen Campbell quits for better 'work-life balance' . BBC News . 8 March 2020 . 8 March 2020 . 8 March 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200308140529/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-51790745 . live .
43. News: Central Scotland Conservative MSP Margaret Mitchell will not seek re-election . Daily Record . 18 April 2020 . 29 April 2020 . 25 April 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200425042600/https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/central-scotland-conservative-msp-margaret-21886600 . live .
44. News: Kirkaldy. Liam. 9 June 2020. David Stewart to stand down as MSP. Holyrood Magazine. 11 June 2020. 11 June 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200611121933/https://www.holyrood.com/news/view,david-stewart-to-stand-down-as-msp_15611.htm. live.
45. News: Beaton . Ailean . Angus MacDonald to step down as MSP . Holyrood Magazine . 11 June 2020 . 11 June 2020 . 11 June 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200611090313/https://www.holyrood.com/news/view,angus-macdonald-to-step-down-as-msp_15623.htm . live .
46. Web site: 18 June 2020 . Former Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray to quit Holyrood . BBC News . 18 June 2020 . 18 June 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200618110535/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-53090859 . live .
47. News: Tory MSP Adam Tomkins to stand down at 2021 Scottish Parliament election. Daily Record. Chris. McCall. 17 July 2020. 18 July 2020. 18 July 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200718165951/https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/tory-msp-adam-tomkins-stand-22373486. live.
48. News: Clydebank MSP Gil Paterson to retire at next election. Clydebank Post. Tristan. Stewart-Robertson. 31 July 2020. 31 July 2020. 1 August 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200801145701/https://www.clydebankpost.co.uk/news/18620436.clydebank-msp-gil-paterson-retire-next-election/. live.
49. Web site: Mullen . Stacey . East Kilbride MSP Linda Fabiani to step down at next Holyrood election . . 23 August 2020 . 12 August 2020 . 18 August 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200818215112/https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/18644988.east-kilbride-msp-linda-fabiani-step-next-holyrood-election/ . live .
50. Web site: Mackay will not stand for SNP at 2021 election . Daily Business Group . 27 March 2021 . 14 August 2020 . 25 February 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210225111320/https://dailybusinessgroup.co.uk/2020/08/mackay-will-not-stand-for-snp-at-2021-election/ . live .
51. Web site: SNP minister Roseanna Cunningham to stand down as MSP . BBC News . 22 August 2020 . 22 August 2020 . 4 December 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201204010203/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-53873493 . live .
52. Web site: Former SNP minister Alex Neil to stand down as MSP . BBC News . 23 August 2020 . 23 August 2020 . 5 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200905131215/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-53880367 . live .
53. News: Jeane Freeman to stand down at Scottish election. BBC News. 24 August 2020. 24 August 2020. 24 August 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200824222422/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-53896876. live.
54. Web site: Sandra White becomes 13th SNP politician to stand down. 27 August 2020. www.thenational.scot. 27 August 2020. 27 August 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200827235345/https://www.thenational.scot/news/18681602.holyrood-elections-sandra-white-becomes-13th-snp-politician-stand/. live.
55. Web site: Aberdeen SNP MSP Maureen Watt to stand down from Holyrood in 2021. 7 September 2020. pressandjournal.co.uk. 7 September 2020. 8 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200908100117/https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/politics/scottish-politics/2470615/aberdeen-snp-msp-maureen-watt-to-stand-down-from-holyrood-in-2021/. live.
56. News: Holyrood's presiding officer Ken Macintosh to stand down next year . 22 September 2020 . 22 September 2020 . BBC News . 23 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200923011406/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-54248030 . live .
57. News: Dingwall . Blair . 'It has been a privilege': Family comes first as Dundee Labour MSP Jenny Marra to stand down . The Courier . 28 November 2020 . 29 November 2020 . 28 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201128141612/https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/politics/scottish-politics/1770982/it-has-been-a-privilege-family-comes-first-as-dundee-labour-msp-jenny-marra-to-stand-down/ . live .
58. News: Lewis Macdonald: MSP is stepping down from Holyrood next year. Tom. Peterkin. 30 November 2020. Press and Journal. 30 November 2020. 30 November 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201130112002/https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/politics/scottish-politics/2690278/lewis-macdonald-msp-standing-down/. live.
59. JohannLamont. Lamont. Johann. 1367460268389851140. I am definitely standing down. Wiki notwithstanding. . 4 March 2021. 10 March 2021.
60. ScotTories. Scottish Conservatives. 1368570842913898505. @ScotTories candidate list rankings announcement
    Here is Central Scotland https://t.co/Q1E84TYxBH. 7 March 2021. 7 March 2021.
61. ScotTories. Scottish Conservatives. 1369269308946341889. @ScotTories candidate list rankings
    Here is the North East. https://t.co/ULGBIUWGcB. 9 March 2021. 10 March 2021.
62. News: SNP MSP James Dornan announces plan to stand down. The Herald. 26 February 2020. 26 February 2020. 26 February 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200226084152/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18261183.snp-msp-james-dornan-announces-plan-stand/. live.
63. News: Glasgow MSP James Dornan launches bid for 2021 seat . Kathleen . Nutt . Glasgow Times . 2 July 2020 . 6 July 2020 . 7 July 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200707061413/https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/18556287.glasgow-msp-james-dornan-launches-bid-2021-seat/ . live .
64. News: Scottish election 2021: Deadline closes for candidates . BBC News . 1 April 2021 . 4 April 2021 . 31 March 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210331231645/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-56593188 . live .
65. Web site: UKIP Scotland Team . 28 April 2021 . 3 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210503213345/https://www.ukip.org/team-scotland . live .
66. Web site: Electoral system: How it works, 02 April 2003 . BBC News . 2 April 2003 . 6 May 2011 . 4 September 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070904172645/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/2840087.stm . live .
67. Web site: D'Hondt system . BBC News . 28 September 2009 . 4 May 2011 . 13 November 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111113015416/http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/guides/newsid_8227000/8227617.stm . live .
68. Web site: Revised Recommendations . Boundary Commission for Scotland . 26 April 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110612043941/http://www.bcomm-scotland.gov.uk/1st_holyrood/rev_rec_regions/regions_revised_recommendations_map_A2.pdf . 12 June 2011 . dead.
69. News: Scottish Conservatives launch Holyrood campaign with 'rebuild' pledge . BBC News . 2021-03-25 . 2021-03-25 . en-GB . 25 March 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210325221132/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-56523328 . live .
70. News: Who is the Alba Party, the new group led by Alex Salmond running for seats in Holyrood. 26 March 2021. The Scotsman. en. 27 March 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210327165331/https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/who-is-the-alba-party-these-are-the-details-behind-alex-salmonds-new-party-3180253. live.
71. News: 26 March 2021. Alex Salmond to lead new Alba Party into Scottish Parliament election. en-GB. The National. 26 March 2021. 26 March 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210326152003/https://www.thenational.scot/news/19190356.alex-salmond-lead-new-alba-party-scottish-parliament-election/. live.
72. News: 26 March 2021. Alex Salmond launches new independence-focused political party. 26 March 2021. The Guardian. en. 26 March 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210326153236/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/mar/26/alex-salmond-launches-new-independence-focused-political-party-alba. live.
73. News: 2021-03-26. Alex Salmond launches new political party. en-GB. BBC News. 2021-03-26. 27 March 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210327033351/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-56539696. live.
74. News: Alba defectors urged to resign as MPs . Gordon . Tom . 28 March 2021 . The Herald . en . 28 March 2021 . 28 March 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210328140715/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/19193139.alba-party-defectors-urged-resign-westminster-seats/ . live .
75. News: Barrie . Douglas . Action for Independence stands down candidates after Salmond announcement . Evening Standard . 26 March 2021 . en . 28 March 2021 . 26 March 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210326220116/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/scotland-action-independence-alex-salmond-scottish-parliament-b926554.html . live .
76. News: Nicola Sturgeon: I will refuse to deal with Alex Salmond unless he apologises to accusers. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/03/30/nicola-sturgeon-will-refuse-deal-alex-salmond-unless-apologises/ . 12 January 2022 . subscription . live. Simon. Johnson. The Telegraph. 30 March 2021. www.telegraph.co.uk.
77. Web site: Scotland election 2021: Party leaders clash over need for indyref2 . BBC News . 30 March 2021 . 31 March 2021 . 30 March 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210330232219/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-56583377 . live .
78. Web site: Two leaders' debates to form part of BBC Scotland's Holyrood election coverage . HeraldScotland . 22 March 2021 . 2021-03-25 . 25 March 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210325065523/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/19178773.bbc-scotlands-holyrood-election-coverage-include-leaders-debates/ . live .
79. Web site: Scottish election 2021: Alex Salmond demands Alba Party included in TV debates. 2021-04-03. www.scotsman.com. April 2021 . en. 1 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210401155231/https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/scottish-election-2021-alex-salmond-demands-alba-party-included-in-tv-debates-3186468. live.
80. Web site: Scottish election 2021: Scottish party leaders pitch Covid recovery plans . BBC News . 13 April 2021 . 14 April 2021 . 13 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210413223318/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-56737363 . live .
81. Web site: Party leaders go head-to-head in STV's live election debate . Jenness . Mitchell . STV News . 13 April 2021 . 14 April 2021 . 14 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210414020259/https://news.stv.tv/scotland/party-leaders-to-go-head-to-head-in-stvs-live-election-debate?top . live .
82. News: Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross claims independence threatens our coronavirus recovery. 4 April 2021. 7 April 2021. Clyde 2. en. 4 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210404101241/https://planetradio.co.uk/clyde/local/news/scottish-conservative-douglas-ross-independence-coronavirus-recovery/. live.
83. Web site: Scottish Parliament Election 2021: The Leaders Phone In. 2021-04-01. Clyde 2. en. 1 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210401140206/https://planetradio.co.uk/clyde-2/station/on-air/scottish-parliament-election-2021-the-leaders-phone-in/. live.
84. Web site: Hutcheon. Paul. 2021-04-09. Holyrood election campaigning suspended following death of Prince Philip. 2021-04-09. Daily Record. en. 9 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210409124025/https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/holyrood-election-campaigning-suspended-following-23883558. live.
85. Web site: Parties suspend election campaigns after Prince Philip's death . Fabiana . Cacace . STV News . 9 April 2021 . 9 April 2021 . 9 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210409131101/https://news.stv.tv/scotland/parties-suspend-election-campaigns-after-prince-philips-death?top . live .
86. Web site: Scottish election 2021: Campaigning suspended after death of Duke of Edinburgh . BBC News . 9 April 2021 . 9 April 2021 . 9 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210409143312/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-56689201 . live .
87. Web site: Election campaigns to resume after duke's death . BBC News . 11 April 2021 . 11 April 2021 . 10 April 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210410205839/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-56706265 . live .
88. News: Quitian . Sergi . 29 March 2021 . When is the first Scottish Parliament election TV debate and where to watch . Daily Record . 2 April 2021 . 26 March 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210326134038/https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/first-tv-debate-scottish-parliament-23799445 . live .
89. Web site: 2021-04-06. STV announce line up for leaders' debate and election coverage. 2021-04-06. Times News Express. en-US. 7 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210507121745/https://timesnewsexpress.com/news/world/uk/stv-announce-line-up-for-leaders-debate-and-election-coverage/. dead.
90. Web site: LIVE: Scottish political leaders face off in student-led election debate. 2021-04-20. The National. 20 April 2021 . en. 20 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210420171030/https://www.thenational.scot/news/19246572.nus-scotland-election-debate-nicola-sturgeon-faces-opposition/. live.
91. bbcquestiontime . 1384908035458543616. On the Question Time panel tomorrow, Fiona is joined by @KeithBrownSNP, @Douglas4Moray, @AnasSarwar, @lornaslater and @willie_rennie. With a virtual audience from Edinburgh, join us tomorrow at 10:45pm on @BBCOne. #bbcqt . 2021-04-22. 21 April 2021.
92. channel4news . 1385282663670554625 . Channel 4 News is to host the first UK wide televised debate of Scotland's main party leaders. The 45-minute head-to-head will take place in Glasgow on Tuesday 27 April 2021 at 7pm ahead of the Scottish Parliament election on 6 May – presented by @krishgm.. 2021-04-22 . 22 April 2021.
93. Web site: BBC U-turn and cancel live audience participation in final leaders' debate. The National. 23 April 2021 . 23 April 2021. 23 April 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210423042848/https://www.thenational.scot/news/19253180.bbc-leaders-debate-format-change-means-no-live-audience-may-4-broadcast/. live.
94. News: Small parties and independents big losers in Scottish elections . Paterson . Kirsteen . 9 May 2021 . 10 May 2021 . The National . en.
95. News: 9 May 2021 . Scottish Election: SNP squeezed as border region bucks trend . 4 October 2021 . ITV News . en.
96. News: Nutt . Kathleen . 7 May 2021 . Scottish election: Blow for Labour as it fails to take Rutherglen target seat . The National .
97. News: Paton . Craig . 8 May 2021 . Minister loses seat after failing in bid to oust Tory . en . Evening Standard . live . 10 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210510001948/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/snp-scottish-tories-labour-jamie-b934027.html . 10 May 2021.
98. News: Pengilly . Calam . 11 May 2021 . SNP take Ayr and party holds on to CCDV seat . Ayr Advertiser . live . 2 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220202144234/https://www.ayradvertiser.com/news/19292184.snp-take-ayr-party-holds-ccdv-seat/ . 2 February 2022.
99. News: Paterson . Kirsteen . 8 May 2021 . Andy Wightman loses in Highlands & Islands - but Douglas Ross gets in . The National . live . 10 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210508200809/https://www.thenational.scot/news/19289163.andy-wightman-loses-highlands-islands---douglas-ross-gets/ . 8 May 2021.
100. News: 8 May 2021. SNP wins election, but just one seat short of overall majority. PA Media. STV News. 26 August 2021. en-GB. 23 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210523140840/https://news.stv.tv/politics/snp-wins-election-but-just-short-of-overall-majority. live.
101. News: 9 May 2021. While Salmond tanked, pro-unionist tactical voting made its mark in Scotland. Brooks. Libby. 26 August 2021. The Guardian. en. 17 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210817003147/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/may/09/while-salmond-tanked-pro-unionist-tactical-voting-made-its-mark-in-scotland. live.
102. News: 8 May 2021. Pro-union tactical voting frustrates Scotland's nationalists. McDonald. Andrew. 26 August 2021. Politico. en-US. 26 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210826201331/https://www.politico.eu/article/scotland-snp-tactical-voting-nicola-sturgeon-election-independence/. live.
103. News: Scottish election 2021: How the SNP was denied a majority by tactical voting – Professor John Curtice. Curtice. John. 10 May 2021. The Scotsman. 26 August 2021. 19 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211019171728/https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/columnists/scottish-election-2021-how-the-snp-was-denied-a-majority-by-tactical-voting-professor-john-curtice-3230002. live.
104. News: Tories voting tactically for Labour kept the SNP out, says Giugliano. Stewart-Robertson. Tristan. 14 May 2021. Dumbarton and Vale of Leven Reporter. 27 August 2021. 27 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210827090117/https://www.dumbartonreporter.co.uk/news/19303063.tories-voting-tactically-labour-kept-snp-says-giugliano/. live.
105. News: O'Toole. Emer. 11 May 2021. Did Unionist tactical voting ads stop SNP from winning key target seats?. 26 August 2021. The National. en. 26 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210826201331/https://www.thenational.scot/news/19293533.snp-lose-target-seats-unionist-tactical-voting-ads/. live.
106. News: Pro-UK activists spend heavily to head off SNP majority at Holyrood. Carrell. Severin. Brooks. Libby. McIntyre. Niamh. 5 May 2021. The Guardian. 26 August 2021. 26 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210826201331/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/may/05/pro-uk-activists-spend-heavily-to-head-off-snp-majority-at-holyrood. live.
107. News: Christie. Niall. 12 May 2021. Far-right group used Scottish Greens' branding. 26 August 2021. Morning Star. en. 26 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210826213345/https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/scot-greens-electoral-commission-complaints. live.
108. News: Study reveals scale of anti-SNP tactical voting at Holyrood election. Duffy. Judith. 13 June 2021. The National. 27 August 2021. 27 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210827090121/https://www.thenational.scot/news/19368928.study-reveals-scale-anti-snp-tactical-voting-holyrood-election/. live.
109. News: Women and younger people backed SNP in 2021 election, top pollster says. Garton. Abbi. 19 May 2021. The National. 24 January 2023. subscription. Professor John Curtice analysed the demographic breakdown of the constituency vote in the election from data contained in a Savanta ComRes post-election poll..
110. News: Revealed: What each Scottish Parliament seat cost parties in 2021. Paterson. Kirsteen. 2 February 2022. The National. 2 February 2022. 2 February 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220202115343/https://www.thenational.scot/news/19893002.revealed-scottish-parliament-seat-cost-parties-2021/. live.
111. Web site: Campaign spending of £250,000 or less at 2021 Scottish Parliament election . 2 November 2021 . Electoral Commission . 28 June 2022.
112. Web site: Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 18 May 2021 . Scottish Parliament . 19 May 2021 . 19 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210519201252/https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/what-was-said-and-official-reports/official-reports/meeting-of-parliament-18-05-2021?meeting=13227&iob=119824&qry=election%20of%20first%20minister#119824 . live .
113. News: 2021-05-18. Nicola Sturgeon re-elected as Scotland's first minister. en-GB. BBC News. 2021-05-18. 10 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211010052707/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-57146752. live.
114. Web site: Official Report. Scottish Parliament. 20 May 2020. 11 August 2021. 11 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210811114511/https://archive2021.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/report.aspx?r=13228&mode=pdf. live.
115. News: SNP and Scottish Greens 'close to deal' on co-operation. Davidson. Gina. 3 August 2021. The Scotsman. 4 August 2021. en. 3 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210803195628/https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/snp-and-scottish-greens-close-to-deal-on-co-operation-3332791. live.
116. Web site: DRAFT COOPERATION AGREEMENT between THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT and THE SCOTTISH GREEN PARTY PARLIAMENTARY GROUP. gov.scot. 20 August 2021. https://archive.today/20210822040512/https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/agreement/2021/07/scottish-government-and-scottish-green-party-co-operation-agreement/documents/scottish-government-and-scottish-green-party-parliamentary-group-draft-cooperation-agreement/scottish-government-and-scottish-green-party-parliamentary-group-draft-cooperation-agreement/govscot:document/SG%2BSGP%2B-%2BDraft%2BCooperation%2BAgreement%2B-%2BFINAL%2B-%2BOFFSEN.pdf. 22 August 2021. 22 August 2021. live.
117. News: 26 August 2021. Scottish Greens co-leaders Harvie and Slater to be given minister roles. en-GB. BBC News. 26 August 2021. 26 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210826121616/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-58340383. live.
118. Web site: Scottish Green members hold unprecedented power. How will they use it?. Ramsay. Adam. 23 August 2021. openDemocracy. 27 August 2021. en. 26 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210826162921/https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/opendemocracyuk/scottish-green-members-hold-unprecedented-power-how-will-they-use-it/. live.
119. News: Campbell. Glenn. 28 August 2021. Scottish Greens back historic government deal. en-GB. BBC News. 28 August 2021. 27 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210827232751/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-58360337. live.