But results for the Conservatives were not positive elsewhere, as it fell into third place in terms of seats in Wales behind Plaid Cymru and got a lower share of the vote in England than Labour, at 30% compared with 31%.
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Sturgeon will now have to reach out to other parties in order to pass legislation at Holyrood just as sweeping new powers are set to be devolved to the parliament.
Ms Sturgeon said: “The Scottish Parliament, of course, has a majority of MSPs who support independence”.
Meanwhile, Scottish Labour leader Kezia Dugdale insisted she would remain in the job despite her party’s humiliating result, which saw them lose their four remaining constituency seats in Glasgow to the SNP.
Davidson said: “The First Minister no longer can pretend that she can wake up one morning and see an opinion poll that she likes and call a snap referendum”.
Labour’s best moment of the night came in the neighbouring Edinburgh Southern constituency, where they gained a seat from the SNP.
Labour Party politician Sadiq Khan, the son of a bus driver from Pakistan, led London’s mayoral race Friday, opening a lead over Conservative rival Zac Goldsmith that left him poised to be the city’s first Muslim mayor.
And he also warned that after a widely acclaimed campaign by leader Ruth Davidson, the Scottish Conservatives will “hold Ms Sturgeon’s toes to the fire” to ensure she uses the raft of new tax and welfare powers instead of trying to push for another independence referendum.
“I don’t think he will find that there is a majority in the Scottish Parliament in the way he says there is but we will see how that develops”.
There was also success for the Liberal Democrats, with Scottish leader Willie Rennie winning back the North East Fife seat from the SNP, while children’s charity worker Alex Cole-Hamilton won Edinburgh Western from the nationalists.
There was also a sting for Nicola Sturgeon’s SNP, as the party failed to secure enough seats for a majority.
“We should respect the will of the people at all times, and that applies not just to the SNP but to other parties as well”.
“In the last budget round talks they never even bothered to invite us in where in previous years they had made the effort”.
Nicola Sturgeon’s SNP was expected to achieve another majority in a repeat of 2011, but it hasn’t happened.
“I hope we can put party differences aside and work together”.
Another snag, however, is the question of a second independence referendum.
He added: ” Now, some of the Labour majorities in seats around the country are quite substantial and it will be a challenge to overcome them.
“Looking ahead, the Union mapped out its vision for Scottish farming and crofting in our manifesto document for this election and as the new parliament beds in, these are items we will be seeking to progress”.
Mr Mason, who is standing in the Shettleston constituency, said: ” Looking at things it seems very positive for us and I get the impression that it’s consistent throughout Glasgow.
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I will always fight Scotland’s corner and I will work every single day to make our country fairer, wealthier and stronger.
