Scottish election delivers most disproportional result yet as pro-independence bloc wins 57% of seats with 41% of list vote
By
John Curtice
Crisp on the outside, thoughtful on the inside. A keeper.
Summary
The article analyzes the 2026 Scottish election results, noting that while the SNP and Greens together won 57% of parliamentary seats (73 MSPs), they only secured 41% of the regional list vote. This highlights a significant disproportionality in Scotland's mixed-member proportional electoral system, with pro-independence parties achieving their largest-ever representation despite lacking majority popular support on the list vote.
Key quotes
· 5 pulledIn the event, the SNP did not win the overall majority First Minister John Swinney sought in the 2026 Scottish election.
However, between them the SNP and the Greens won 73 seats, 57% of all MSPs.
It is the largest ever contingent of pro-independence MSPs at Holyrood.
Yet between them the two parties won just 41% of the regional list vote.
The avowed aim of the parliament's mixed-member proportional electoral system is t
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