The Scottish National Party (SNP) and Labour have both claimed victory in the 2012 Scottish council elections, while the Liberal Democrat vote has collapsed.

The Today programme's James Naughtie was at the count in Glasgow and reflects on Labour's victory and the significance of a vote that was about much more than local government.

The local elections in the city were the latest round of the battle between the Scottish Nationalist Party, in power in the Edinburgh parliament, and Labour.

For the the SNP First Minister, Alex Salmond, it was an opportunity to deliver another blow, the SNP had hoped during the campaign that they could take Glasgow from Labour.

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