THE SNP has failed to secure a second majority at Holyrood, winning 63 of the 129 seats at the Scottish Parliament.
It comes as the Scottish Conservatives had their best ever result - securing 31 MSPs - and the Labour Party suffered its worst result since devolution with 24 MSPs.
Meanwhile, in Wales, Ukip won its first seats in the Assembly, although Labour remains on course to retain power in the Senedd for a fifth successive term, despite an overall drop in its share of the vote.
It has so far won 26 out of 39 declared constituencies.
To claim an overall majority it would need 31 seats - although it could still govern via a minority administration, or leading a coalition with the number of AMs as it stands.
However, among the surprises in Wales was Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood winning the Rhondda seat from government minister Leighton Andrews.
Plaid pulled off the biggest scalp of the night after Ms Wood's gamble to go head-to-head against cabinet minister Leighton Andrews paid off.
The former probation officer took 50.6 per cent of the vote as well as causing a massive 21.1 per cent swing in the process.
She said: "To win here, in the Rhondda, to win where you've lived all your life and grown up, is a real honour.
"A new dawn is about to break in Wales. People have voted for change."
Meanwhile, Ukip's seats come despite the party being opposed to the Assembly's existence until 2013.
Nigel Farage told Sky News: "Many traditional Labour voters look at Jeremy Corbyn and look at the Labour party and see that it's gone way to the left - and doesn't look very patriotic.
"It completely refuses to engage with issues such as immigration.
"Unless the Labour party changes course then Ukip will continue to go on growing at the expense of Labour."
While Labour has left its rivals behind, the contest for second place between Plaid and the Conservatives has been neck and neck.
There were cheers of relief for the Liberal Democrats, who have avoided a total wipeout after leader Kirsty Williams's emphatic victory in Brecon and Radnorshire.
