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The story of election night in Scotland

First Minister John Swinney has described the general election result as "very, very difficult and damaging" for the SNP, as Labour made dramatic gains in Scotland.

As his party suffered a series of big losses, Mr Swinney said there would need to be "soul searching" following a "very poor result".

Labour has won a landslide in the general election in the UK, and Keir Starmer will be the new prime minister.

Watch the main moments from a historic night in Scottish politics.

Video by Graham Fraser

5 July 2024

Nicola Sturgeon

Scottish Labour

Scottish independence

General election 2024

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The Glen Sannox ferry on the water during trials.

Watch: The Glen Sannox ferry saga in two minutes

Glasgow & West Scotland

John Prescott is pushed back against a wall by a protester; there is egg on Prescott's shoulder

Moment Prescott punched protester who threw egg at him

Angela Rayner at the dispatch box in the Commons at PMQs

PMQs: Deputies clash over latest inflation figures

BBC Scotland political editor Glenn Campbell lying on the ground with a blue beanie hat and wrapped in a silver blanket

‘I wanted to show what having a seizure was like’

Weather presenter Christopher Blanchett standing in front of a large-scale photograph of wintry conditions

Weather forecast: First taste of winter in Scotland

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn

Flynn: Reaction to 2026 Holyrood bid 'not pleasant'

Pudsey the bear with a colourful polkadot bandage over one eye standing with three children in front of a small blue and white plane on the Fair Isle landing strip.

Pudsey flies in to meet children on Fair Isle

NE, Orkney & Shetland

A shoplifter with face blurred gathers up a bundle of green gloves with furry lining from a shelf in a clothes shop.

Moment Royal Mile thief stuffs gloves into his trousers

Edinburgh, Fife & East

Neil Gray said he is "committed" to the plan and the government is "considering all options."

Neil Gray insists commitment to National Care Service

Scotland Politics

Olivia Gallosi is on the left and has brown hair, a yellow jumper and a brown jacket. She has headphones around her neck and a rucksack on her back. Roni Sharp is on the right and is wearing a purple jumper and has a pink bag on her shoulder. There are buildings in the background.

Edinburgh University students tell of discrimination on campus

Edinburgh, Fife & East

A young surfer with a green helmet rides through a crashing white wave. A person in a red jacket watches over a brown wall.

Europe's largest inland surf resort opens in disused quarry

Edinburgh, Fife & East

Veterans during Edinburgh's Armistice Day event. One of them is saluting while the other have heads bowed while holding flags downward.

Watch: Armistice Day tributes take place across Scotland

Darren Jones in BBC Political Thinking radio studio

My parents went without to feed me, says Treasury minister

Three rescuers wearing life jackets and hard hats work to free a humpback whale in a sea loch

Humpback whale tangled in creel lines set free

An old black and white picture shows firefighters on a fire engine as it leaves the fire station through a brick archway

How Scotland's first fire brigade inspired the world

Edinburgh, Fife & East

Sandy Duthie from Aberdeenshire is now the lighthouse keeper on Gabo Island, in Victoria

The Scot in charge of an Australian lighthouse

Police stand next to a blue trawler vessel moored in a harbour

Watch: Police target fishing boat over 'modern slavery' claim

Sir Keir Starmer at PMQs in the Commons.

Watch: PM and Badenoch react to Trump's victory at PMQs

Chris Mason standing outside Downing Street

Trump win is the more complicated outcome for UK government

Firework explodes on the top or a building behind a traffic island sending red and yellow sparks showering metres in all directions.

Watch: Fireworks set off on Scottish streets on Bonfire Night

John Swinney backed Kamala Harris for the US presidency

Swinney congratulates Trump on election victory

The first minister had backed Democrat Kamala Harris, which Trump's Scottish business had branded "an insult".

Scotland Politics

John Swinney standing in Holyrood's debating chamber. He is wearing a blue suit and dark tie and other MSPs can be seen behind him.

First minister leads tributes to Alex Salmond

John Swinney said he had left an indellible mark on public life, in a career spanning three decades.

Scotland Politics

Three pallbearers take Alex Salmond's coffin into a church. The coffin is draped in a saltire and has flowers on top.

Watch: Alex Salmond's coffin at church and cortege led by piper

The former first minister's funeral and burial is attended by family and close friends only.

Scotland Politics

Scottish Finance Secretary Shona Robison sitting in front of a backdrop showing Dundee and the Tay Bridge.

UK Budget 'needs to invest in services and infrastructure'

The UK Budget needs to invest in services and infrastructure in order to bring about an end to austerity, the Scottish finance secretary says.

Scotland Politics

Patrick Harvie said the Scottish Greens had a responsibility to engage with the process in good faith.

Scottish Greens warn SNP not to take support for granted

Patrick Harvie said the Scottish Greens had a responsibility to engage with the process in good faith.

Scotland Politics

Stephen Flynn

Alex Salmond 'most talented politician of his generation' - Flynn

MPs have made tribute speeches to the former SNP leader in the House of Commons.

Scotland Politics

Mason happy to repeat 'no genocide' claim after SNP expulsion

Mason happy to repeat 'no genocide' claim after SNP expulsion

Former SNP MSP John Mason was suspended over comments about the Israel-Gaza war

Scotland Politics

Mark Donfield wearing a blue suit and tie, being interviewed on Zoom about Alex Salmond

Alex Salmond collapsed 'all of a sudden' - conference organiser

Mark Donfried said "time stood still" when the former SNP leader collapsed at a conference in the Balkans.

Scotland Politics

John Swinney

'He inspired a generation to believe in Scottish independence'

'Salmond inspired a generation to believe in Scottish independence' - Swinney

Scotland Politics

Alex Salmond standing at a podium during campaigning for the 2014 independence referendum.

Key moments of Alex Salmond's life and career... in 107 seconds

A look back at some of the key moments from the life and career of former Scottish first minister Alex Salmond.

Scotland Politics

He said the Parliament's opening in 1999 reflected a "new dawn" for the country.

The King's speech to Scottish Parliament in full

He said the Parliament's opening in 1999 reflected a "new dawn" for the country.

Scotland Politics

John Swinney was speaking in Glasgow as he launched a party leaflet about Scottish independence.

Swinney plans to 'build confidence in independence'

John Swinney was speaking in Glasgow as he launched a party leaflet about Scottish independence.

Scotland Politics

A composite stylised image of Alex Salmond, Nicola Sturgeon Jim Murphy and Alasdair Darling during the 2014 Scottish independence referendum campaign.

Watch: How Scotland's 2014 indyref campaign unfolded

A decade on from Scotland's independence referendum, take a look back at key moments from the campaign.

Scotland Politics

Mr Salmond said since the 2014 referendum, the "zombie parliament" at Holyrood had "done nothing".

Salmond addresses rally to mark referendum anniversary

Mr Salmond said since the 2014 referendum, the "zombie parliament" at Holyrood had "done nothing".

Scotland Politics

Composite image of Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond

Alex Salmond: 'I doubt Nicola and I will speak again'

Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond discuss the breakdown of their political partnership in a new documentary.

Scotland Politics

John Swinney

Swinney: SNP must show independence is route to fairer future

John Swinney says his leadership of the SNP will focus on "earning the right to be heard by delivering on the public's priorities".

Scotland Politics

Russell Findlay has announced he will run to be Scottish Conservative leader

Tory MSP Russell Findlay warned of threat to his life

Mr Findlay said he was told by police that a "known criminal" was behind the intimidation.

Scotland Politics

John Swinney

Swinney expects change to 'poor' Westminster relations

The first minister says he hopes engagement with Westminster can improve after a "very poor" five years.

Scotland Politics

Sir Keir Starmer

Labour will serve 'entirety of Scotland' - Starmer

The prime minister has vowed to serve the whole of Scotland as he took part in a tour or the UK following Labour's landslide general election victory.

Scotland Politics

Anas Sarwar

'We are going to reset devolution' - Sarwar

Labour is going to reset the devolution relationship after gaining power in Westminster, the party's Scottish leader has said.

Scotland Politics