Scotland's Deputy First Minister John Swinney has led his Scottish National Party (SNP) to a decisive victory in the country's local elections, but the party's hopes of securing a majority have been dashed. Despite a strong performance, the SNP fell short of the 45% of the vote needed to achieve an overall majority in Scotland's councils. The party's success will still give them significant control over many local authorities, but it remains to be seen how they will navigate the challenges of coalition-building to implement their policies. As the SNP looks to consolidate its position, the question on everyone's mind is what this means for Scotland's future and the potential for further devolution from Westminster.
John Swinney's party finished comfortably ahead of its rivals, but short of an overall majority.
