Scotland ? Nationalists won the most seats in the Scottish parliament – the Labour Party’s first defeat in Scotland in a half-century – in what appeared Friday to be a final electoral slap to outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

About 10,000 local council seats also were contested in Thursday’s vote in areas of England outside London, where Labour suffered heavier losses, this time to the main opposition Conservatives.

Following an overnight vote count marred by technical and other problems, the election to Scotland’s parliament went to the Scottish National Party, which had pledged a referendum on independence by 2010 if it won power.

The SNP won 47 seats, compared with 46 for Labour. The Conservative Party finished third with 17 seats, while Labour’s partner in the outgoing Scottish coalition, the Liberal Democrats, retained 16.

The results mean no party can form a majority government in the 129-seat parliament, leaving the prospect of either a weak minority administration or a coalition government.