Socttish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said that the SNP emphatically won the election and that it would be an absurdity for any Unionists to try and block a second independence vote in the face of such a mandate.
The SNP and the Scottish Greens under Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater are on course to secure an independence majority in the Holyrood chamber once again.
Here's Nicola Sturgeon acceptance speech in full:
"When the SNP first entered government back in 2007, we secured just one more seat than the Labour Party.
"Few people back then could have predicted that 14 years on, the SNP would be re-elected for a fourth consecutive term as Scotland’s government.
"And absolutely no-one then would have predicted the sheer scale and record-breaking nature of our victory at this election.
"We have won 62 constituency seats - a record number and an incredible 85% of the total.
"We haven’t just held on to every constituency we won in 2016 - we’ve also gained seats from both Labour and the Tories.
"And while the constituency vote shares of Labour, the Tories and the Lib Dems are all down, the SNP has recorded our best ever share of the constituency vote.
"Indeed, we have won more votes and a higher share of the votes in the constituency ballot than any party in the history of devolution.
"This election result is - by any standard - an extraordinary and historic achievement.
"We took our positive message of hope and recovery to every corner of the country, and it has been endorsed emphatically by the Scottish people.
"My heartfelt thanks go to all those in the SNP who worked so hard in such difficult circumstances to make all of this possible.
"I also send my warm congratulations to successful candidates from all parties and of course my commiserations to those who lost out. I know - from personal experience - how tough that is.
"But most of all I want to thank the people of Scotland for putting their trust in me and in the SNP once again.
"We will work to repay that trust every day.
"Over these past 14 years, the make-up of the Scottish electorate has changed. 16 and 17 year olds can now vote, and seeing so many of our young people engaged and energised inspires real hope for the future. And in this election, for the very first time, foreign nationals and refugees also had the right to vote - a tangible symbol of the inclusive country we are.
"On Thursday morning in my own constituency, I met with Syrian refugees who had just cast their first vote in Scotland.
"It was a deeply emotional moment for them - and as a country it should make us proud. But my message today is for all of Scotland and it is this. Wherever you are from, whatever age you are, whatever your background – and no matter who you voted for - the SNP in government is dedicated to working hard for you.
"I pledge that the task of building a better Scotland for everyone who lives here will be my priority every single day.
"As First Minister, my immediate and over-riding task will be to everything I can to keep people as safe as possible.
"While we are making real and positive progress, we have not yet beaten COVID. In this election I said tackling the pandemic must come first and I meant it.
"I will be returning to work straight away to take the decisions that will guide our next steps back to normality, and onto recovery.
"In this election, the SNP put forward an ambitious and transformative programme to kick-start and drive recovery.
"We will now get on with the job of delivering that programme. It means -
"The remobilisation of our NHS, coupled with the investment it needs to secure it for the figure. A new National Care Service. Investment to support new, green jobs and reskill people for the jobs of the future. A Youth Guarantee to secure opportunities for our young people." ■