SNP strengthens its position in Scotland

The one blemish on the Conservatives' landslide election night was in Scotland, where a resurgent SNP took 48 of 59 seats, representing an increase of 13 and leading inevitably to renewed and strengthened calls for a second referendum on Scottish independence. Party leader and First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon said her party had won “a renewed, refreshed and strengthened mandate”. Quite how the Conservatives, with a renewed and strengthened mandate of their own, will act on the issue remains to be fully seen.