SCOTTISH Tories were celebrating last night after taking two of their biggest scalps of the election – those of former SNP leader Alex Salmond and deputy leader Angus Robertson – in a bad night for the party.
The result in Gordon came shortly saw them come from third place last time to dethrone Salmond. Robertson, previously the SNP’s Westminster leader, was their most high-profile MP, but was beaten by Tory Douglas Ross who overturned a majority of 9065 to win by 4159 votes, representing a 14 per cent swing to the Tories.
As group leader at Westminster, and as a result of the SNP’s newly-acquired third-party status, he quizzed the Prime Minister weekly, challenging the UK Government on everything from welfare reforms to Brexit and foreign affairs.
He has frequently won plaudits for her performances at PMQs, and earned a reputation as a formidable opponent and potential leadership contender.
Robertson grew up in Edinburgh before attending university in Aberdeen. After working as a journalist and then as European and international affairs adviser to SNP MSPs at Holyrood, he was elected to Westminster in 2001 to represent Moray.
He served as the party’s defence spokesman and, in 2015, was appointed as a member of the Privy Council and the parliamentary Intelligence and Security Committee.
In the 2007 and 2011 Scottish elections, he was the party’s campaigns director and previously served as business convener, chairing the SNP’s National Executive Committee, the annual national conference and the policy-making forum National Council.
In his victory speech, Ross said: “I’d like to pay tribute to my fellow candidates. Could I also say to Angus, thank-you on behalf of the people of Moray for your outstanding service to the people of Moray over the last 16 years.”
Labour’s tally started with the first Scottish result of the night in Rutherglen and Hamilton West, beating the SNP’s Margaret Ferrier. Ged Killen polled 19,101 votes, in an 8.9 per cent swing in Labour’s favour and a 16 per cent drop in the SNP vote.
“This result is a rejection of austerity and a rejection of a divisive second independence referendum,” said Killen. “Above all this result is a vote for a progressive manifesto and a fresh start for Rutherglen and Hamilton West.”
The Tories also overturned an 11,230 SNP majority to take Angus from the chief whip in the Commons Mike Weir, who came second, 2945 votes behind Kirstene Hair.
There was better news for the SNP’s Mhairi Black, the youngest MP in the last session of Parliament, who narrowly held Paisley and Renfrewshire South despite a big drop in her share of the vote – a majority of 2541, down 3143 on the 2015 result.
She told BBC Radio 4 she was confident the SNP would end the night as the largest part in Scotland, and that it was always going to be “nearly impossible” for them hold all their seats. Black added that she “would love it” if Jeremy Corbyn was in a position to form some form of government and that the SNP would be prepared to work with a Corbyn administration on an issue by issue basis.
“I make no secret of the fact that I find Westminster archaic, so long as it’s our political institution, we have to get involved in it,” she said. “I’m glad to be re-elected to go back down and continue to batter into whoever is in government that austerity is not working, it’s not benefitting people’s lives whatsoever.”
The dark night for the SNP started with a BBC/ITV/Sky exit poll predicting the party would lose 22 seats, bringing their total in Scotland down to 34.
Nicola Sturgeon said it was the party’s second best result in Westminster polling. She wanted time to reflect on a second referendum, adding she would not make “any rash decisions”.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel