The SNP has won 64 seats in the Scottish local elections, although was one short of winning a majority.

The party has taken Ayr and Edinburgh Central from the Conservatives, and East Lothian from Labour.

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon kept her seat in Glasgow Southside, beating Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar by more than 10,000 votes.

The Conservatives now hold 31 seats, Labour have 22, the Green Party have eight, and the Liberal Demoocrats have four.

The SNP have pledged to hold a second independence referendum once the Coronavirus crisis is over.

At the midpoint of the #SP21 count, the scale of @theSNP achievement is beyond doubt - 14 years in government and still polling in high 40%s, gaining seats from other parties & firmly on course for a 4th consecutive term in office ??

— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) May 7, 2021

The SNP is likely to push for a second Scottish independence referendum.