The SNP’s emphatic win has reopened the independence debate, but those insisting that manifestos and vote shares settle the question might want to take a closer look at what was actually written – and what was actually counted, argues Herald columnist Calum Steele.

The people have spoken. Well – just over half of them have – but if you don’t vote you can’t complain, and the message they have delivered is a strong and emphatic victory for the SNP.

The scale of that triumph, while falling short of John Swinney’s aim of an outright majority, is really quite astonishing – especially against the backdrop of 19 years in power, the most recent of which have been mired in controversy, scandal, criminality and allegations of criminality, yet the party has still tightened its iron grip on government in Scotland.

Opponents will point to the rise of Reform and the Keir Starmer effect to diminish the result, but none of that matters. John Swinney still holds the keys to Bute House and, for now at least, looks certain to be First Minister for another five years.

Entirely predictably, attention has turned once again to a second referendum on independence. Swinney may have fallen short of an outright majority, but with the Greens winning a record 15 seats, the pro-independence bloc now stands at 73 MSPs out of 129 – the highest ever. That cannot be blithely waved away.

The more vocal opponents are already shouting that pro-Union votes outstripped pro-indy ones, and that the Greens’ manifesto contained no explicit pledge for Indyref2. Therefore, they claim, despite the number of MSPs there is no basis for a second referendum.

Read more by Calum Steele

This election has seen policing ignored. Where's the justice in that?

A mountain of manifestos – here's what really matters

The SNP's biggest problem is the SNP. Are you........

© Herald Scotland