Scottish secessionists win the regional elections

Last Thursday 5th of May 2016, the United Kingdom held the largest number of elections in recent years, although overshadowed by the EU referendum (“Brexit”) to be hold in June. Citizens turned out to the polls to vote in regional elections in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland and in local elections in England. 

In Scotland, the secessionist Scottish National Party (SNP) won with 63 out of the 129 seats, although they lost their absolute majority. After a major defeat for the Labour Party and an important conservative ascendance, the ‘Tories’ came in second place in Parliament and will lead the opposition. The great unknown after these results is whether the leader of the SNP, Nicola Sturgeon, will promote a second referendum on Scottish Independence. For the time being, she has said that “Brexit” will influence the decision, since a majority vote to leave the EU could trigger the consultation. 

In Wales, the 60 members of the National Assembly were chosen and, even if the Labour Party polled less votes than in previous elections, they are still the main political forcé. Attention should be drawn to the right-wing anti-European Party UKIP, which has gained widespread support throught the country. Citizens in Northern Ireland gave 38 seats to the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and 28 seats to the Sinn Féin nationalist republicans, so both parties will continue to dominate the assembly. 

Finally, the Labour Party dominated in the British local elections winning 41 councils and 779 councillors, despite the huge fall predicted in the opinion polls. The big news lie in the fact that Sadiq Khan, former activist of human rights of Pakistani origin, will become the first Muslim Mayor of London.

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Regional and local elections' result tracker by The Guardian.