Sturgeon hopeful of 4th win in a row

NICOLA Sturgeon said the SNP is on course to return to government in Scotland but claimed a majority is a “very, very long shot”.

- Sam Lister

The First Minister’s party is heading back into power but is desperate to secure a clean win so it can push for another independence poll.

In the last parliamentary term, the SNP held 63 seats, just two shy of an overall majority.

The full results will only be known today but some of the most marginal seats were among those declared last night, giving a good indication of how the new parliament will shape up.

Nationalists secured some early wins, taking East Lothian from Labour with a 1,179 majority and Ayr from the Conservatives by 170 votes.

Ms Sturgeon said: “A majority has always been a very, very long shot – the Holyrood system is a proportional representation system, in 2011 we effectively broke that system.

“It would be good to do but I have never taken that for granted, that has always been on a knife-edge – a small number of votes in a small number of seats – so we’ll wait and see how the votes will pan out.

“At this stage...I’m feeling extremely happy and confident that we’re on track in the SNP for a fourth consecutive election victory and to have the ability to form a government again.