Nationalist triumph paves way for independence vote

Mr Salmond will now be able to push a referendum on Scottish independence through the Parliament after a Labour collapse which led to Iain Gray, the party’s Scottish leader, announcing he will stand down.

The SNP’s bid for a referendum was blocked in the last parliament because of its lack of a majority, but now it could plunge the UK into a constitutional crisis with the party expected to push for the public to have their say before 2016.

When all votes had been counted, the SNP had 69 seats, Labour was on 37, Conservatives on 15, Liberal Democrats on five and the Greens on two. Independent MSP Margo Macdonald was also returned to parliament.

Labour was the big loser on a dreadful day for the party in Scotland, while Lib Dems also saw their vote collapse.

“I’ll govern for all of the ambitions for Scotland and all the people who imagine that we can live in a better land,” said Mr Salmond after flying in to Edinburgh to celebrate victory.

“This party, the Scottish party, the national party, carries your hope. We shall carry it carefully and make the nation proud.”

Mr Salmond was due to speak to Prime Minister David Cameron last night to “lay down markers” about the relationship between Scotland and the rest of the UK, but Mr Cameron made clear he is determined to preserve the union.

Mr Gray only held on to his East Lothian constituency by 151 votes over SNP candidate David Berry, prompting calls for a recount.

Lib Dem leader Tavish Scott held on to Shetland with a reduced share but his party was beaten in areas where it had previously enjoyed a comfortable majority.

In 2007, the SNP beat Labour nationally by just one seat to become the largest party at Holyrood.