Scottish Election results 2021 RECAP: Alex Salmond concedes Alba unlikely to win seats | SNP's Angus Robertson takes Edinburgh Central from Scottish Conservatives | Nicola Sturgeon and John Swinney win constituencies | Labour's Jackie Baillie holds onto Dumbarton | Turnout surges | Interactive constituency map

The count for perhaps the most consequential Scottish Parliament election in history has begun.
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Take a look back on the events as they happened throughout the day.

Scottish Election 2021 RECAP: Election results and updates from across Scotland

Key Events

  • Angus Robertson takes Edinburgh Central from Tories
  • Sturgeon plays down chances of SNP majority
  • SNP take Ayr from Tories in tight race
  • Salmond concedes Alba unlikely to win seats
  • SNP gain East Lothian from Labour

Scottish Election 2021: Liberal Democrat Liam McArthur holds Orkney as first result announced

Turnout across Scotland is up by an average 8% on the last Scottish Parliament election in 2016

The turnout in the Edinburgh Western constituency for the Scottish Parliament election was 46,901 (71.46%).

Alasdair Allan holds the Western Isles for the SNP, with a majority of 3,441 over Labour in second.

The SNP's Marie McNair wins Clydebank and Milngavie

SNP MSP Alasdair Allan has held his Western Isles seat. Mr Allan won with a majority of 3,441.

Labour’s Starmer faces backlash after ‘shattering’ Hartlepool defeat

Sir Keir Starmer has come under fire from all sides after Labour suffered a crushing defeat in the Hartlepool by-election.

In a stunning result, the Conservatives took the seat – which had been Labour-held since it was formed in 1974 – with a majority of 6,940.

Boris Johnson hailed the outcome as “very encouraging” as the Conservatives appeared poised to make further gains in council elections across England.

Allies of the Labour leader acknowledged that it was an “absolutely shattering” blow as another pillar in the party’s once impregnable “red wall” crumbled.

They insisted however that Sir Keir would not be deflected from the course he had set out when he succeeded Jeremy Corbyn a little over a year ago.

However, there were calls from both the left and the right of the party for an urgent change of direction if they were to stand any chance of regaining power at the next general election.

Edinburgh Southern turnout

Officials have confirmed voter turnout in the Edinburgh Southern constituency was 71.11 per cent.