Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP will narrowly miss out on a majority in the Scottish Parliament, it has been projected, as rival parties held key seats.

However, Nicola Sturgeon said any Westminster politician who stands in the way of a Scottish Independence referendum is "not picking a fight with the SNP, you are picking a fight with the democratic wishes of the Scottish people".

She said: "While we don't know the final tally of seats right now, it looks as if it is beyond any doubt that there will be a pro-independence majority in that Scottish Parliament. And by any normal standard of democracy that majority should have the commitments it made to the people of Scotland honoured.

"So for any Westminster politician who tries to stand in the way of that I would say two things. Firstly, you are not picking a fight with the SNP, you are picking a fight with the democratic wishes of the Scottish people and secondly you will not succeed.

"The only people who can decide the future of Scotland are the Scottish people and no Westminster politician can or should stand in the way of that.

She added that the timing of an independence referendum should be for the Scottish Parliament to make.

She added: "That is not a decision for Boris Johnson or for any Westminster politician."

Read the latest on the Scottish elections here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/05/08/local-election-news-results-scotland-london-hartlepool-boris/

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