John Swinney remains positive

The SNP's final total on the night was 27 seats.

Both the Socialists and the Greens have seen their share of the second vote rise.

The Nationalists lost eight seats overall on their 1999 total of 35.

However, the party did manage to stage a late rally after a night of high drama.

The SNP snatched Dundee East, Aberdeen North and Ochil from Labour.

However it failed to capture other key targets such as Glasgow Govan and the knife-edge Dundee West.

Nationalist leader John Swinney remained positive, despite the drop in support.

"The message from me tonight at the conclusion of this election campaign is that the SNP is determined tonight, as it always has been, to release the potential of Scotland and make sure that the people of Scotland run and create a very successful and prosperous and fair country, and a country we can all be proud of," he said.