Counting continues in Scottish election as SNP majority hangs in the balance
Vote counting resumed this morning. By Press Association Saturday 8 May 2021, 11:53 AM 2 hours ago 7,463 Views 3 Comments
Image: Press Association
Image: Press Association
VOTE COUNTING IS continuing for a second day in Scotland’s election, with the possibility of an SNP majority on a knife edge.
Nicola Sturgeon’s party gained three seats during the count on Friday – the only party to take a constituency from another – winning Ayr, Edinburgh Central and East Lothian.
However, uncertainty continued into Saturday, as the wins picked up by the SNP could cause the party to lose regional seats under Holyrood’s system, cancelling out gains made.
Alba Party leader Alex Salmond has said the First Minister “lost her nerve” on Scottish independence in 2017.
The former SNP leader was speaking on a podcast with independence supporters after he admitted his party were unlikely to get any seats in the Holyrood elections.
As well as Ms Sturgeon, Mr Salmond took aim at the leadership of the SNP, who he described as “graceless”.
He also singled out MP John Nicolson, describing him as a “poser”.
The Alba Party leader also claimed his party had helped the SNP in constituencies such as Banff and Buchan Coast.
Mr Salmond accused the First Minister of ‘losing her nerve’ on independence (Jane Barlow/PA)
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Counting continues in the Scottish parliamentary contest, with the SNP leader s hopes of achieving a majority on a knife edge, after a poll predicted the party could miss out by just one seat.
But it is still highly likely the SNP will win its fourth term in power at Holyrood, and Ms Sturgeon said when the time is right she will offer Scots the choice of a better future in a second independence referendum.