THE SNP has made history in the Holyrood election by winning the vote in 60 constituencies.
That's the highest share and highest number of votes of any party in the history of devolution.
The party has won 62 seats so far, the Tories have won 12, Labour have six, the Libdems have four and the Greens have two.
The SNP has won a record 81% of declared constituencies, a record 47.1% vote share, is the only party to gain seats (+3) and the only party to increase vote share (+1.3%).
If the Scottish Parliament elections used a first past the post system like Westminster, Nicola Sturgeon's party would be on course for a bigger landslide than Tony Blair in 1997. Winning 81% of constituencies is the equivalent of 526/650 seats at Westminster - a majority of 402.
The SNP also won the most votes ever in a Scottish Parliament Election with a record 1,066,858 votes so far.
In 2016, the SNP won 59 constituency seats, the Tories won 7, Labour won 3, the Greens won 0 and the LibDems won 4.
READ MORE: SNP's Kaukab Stewart makes history as first woman of colour elected to Holyrood
Nicola Sturgeon said the results were "not a huge surprise", adding: "I've said all along a majority was a long shot.
"We have a PR [proportional representation] system in Holyrood that is not meant to deliver majorities but I am thrilled with our result. We'll see the final tally of results later on this evening but already we know we have won more constituency results than we did at the last election.
"We've won a higher share of the vote in the constituency ballot than we did in 2016 and actually we've won more votes and a higher share of the vote than any party in the history of devolution. By any standards this is a historic achievement and an extraordinary achievement for the SNP - our vote share is up. The vote share of the other parties is down.
"The SNP has won this election emphatically. The message we took to the people of Scotland has been endorsed."
The FM went on to say that getting through Covid should come before indyref2 but she said it currently looks as if it is "beyond any doubt" there will be a pro-independence majority.
"By any normal standards of democracy that majority should have the commitment it made to the people of Scotland honoured."
🏴 Still votes to count but @theSNP is on course for a massive victory and huge mandate in Scotland's election:
— Tom French (@tomfrench85) May 8, 2021
✅ Won a record 81% of declared constituencies
✅ Won a record 47.1% vote share
✅ The only party to gain seats (+3)
✅ The only party to increase vote share (+1.3%)
She said Westminster politicians who stand in the way of that are "not picking a fight with the SNP but with the democratic wishes of the Scottish people".
When asked what message she wants to give to Unionist politicians, Sturgeon said: "Congratulations to all newly elected MSPs. Obviously commiserations to those who lost out.
"I know from experience in the past how tough that it. While I'm delighted about all of the SNP MSPs elected, I am thrilled beyond words to see Kaukab Stewart elected.
"It has taken us far too long, more than 20 years, but today she becomes the first woman of colour to be elected to our parliament so party politics aside, this is a really special and a very significant moment for Scotland. I could not be prouder right now."
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