THE next Scottish Parliament must focus on jobs, campaigners have demanded as votes continue to be counted from the Holyrood election.

Voters went to the ballot box yesterday to elect Scotland’s next government, with the SNP expected to retain power and reinstall Nicola Sturgeon as First Minister.

The PCS union said it hoped the public had voted with unions, colleagues and workplaces “in mind,” while the STUC called for incoming MSPs to back calls for a People’s Recovery from Covid-19 and action on jobs.

Results from the vote will begin emerging today, with full results not expected until Saturday evening. 

Speaking yesterday, Scottish Labour’s Anas Sarwar said Scotland’s national recovery was on the ballot.

He said: “Nicola Sturgeon has a blind spot when it comes to the constitution which means she has taken her eye off the ball, while the Tories’ weak opposition is the gift that keeps on giving for the SNP. 

“In contrast to Boris Johnson’s Tories, Labour is building a credible alternative, with a focus on jobs, the NHS, education, climate and communities.”

Of the Scottish Parliament’s 73 constituency seats, 46 will be counted and announced today, with results expected from 12pm onwards. 

Marginal seats, including Labour-held Dumbarton and Tory-held Eastwood, will give an early indication of how polling has gone as the SNP targets constituency seats.

Polling ahead of yesterday showed significant variations, with the SNP expected to win between 62 and 70 seats — 65 are needed for an overall majority. 

In the battle for second place, Labour has generally trailed the Conservatives, with upper estimates suggesting they will just hold onto the 24 seats won in 2016. Douglas Ross’ Tories could win up to 32 seats, but this figure could drop to 24. 

The Liberal Democrats should return four or five MSPs, while the Scottish Greens could be set to double their current cohort to 10. 

Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said: “The stakes are high at this election, but there is an enormous opportunity for Scotland to take matters into our own hands and build a fairer and greener Scotland that takes on the challenge of the climate emergency.”

Alex Salmond’s Alba Party, which has failed to break through, look as if they will be lucky to return even the former first minister.