Pro-Union parties campaign in Scotland

The political race in Scotland is focused on who will come second to the SNP, which dominated the 2015 elections. Ruth Davidson claims her party is best positioned to defend the Union against a second independence referendum. The SNP received 32% of first preference votes in recent local elections, ahead of the Conservatives and Labour. Despite losing council seats, Labour believes it can still challenge the SNP. The Liberal Democrats aim to counter the SNP's independence focus and the Conservatives' narrow agenda. Nicola Sturgeon dismisses claims of the SNP's decline, citing recent successes as a mandate for another referendum.

What does Nicola Sturgeon believe about the SNP's position in the political landscape?

What implications do the local election results have for the future of independence referendums in Scotland?