SNP increase EU vote share in Moray
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The Scottish National Party (SNP) have increased their vote share in Moray at the European elections to 34.1%, with the Brexit Party in second place.
Local SNP MSP Richard Lochhead thanked Moray and Scotland for a "spectacular" night, while Ruth Davidson of the Tories seemed happy to keep one MEP in Brussels.
Nigel Farage's party picked up 21.9% of the vote in Moray, higher than the Scottish average of 14.7%, but the SNP are 3,220 votes ahead and have increased their gap to the second placed party.
The Conservatives came in third place with 17.5% of the vote, down 6.7% from 2014, with the Liberal Democrats increasing their share by 4.8% to a total of 10.1%.
The Green Party remained consistent, up just 0.1% to 7.2% overall, with Labour the big losers in the area. Jeremy Corbyn's party are down 9.5% to a meagre 3.6% – or 958 votes.
UKIP polled at 2.5% with Change UK picking up 2.2% of the vote. Independents made up the remaining 0.8%.
The voter turnout increased by 6.1% across the region with a total 26,592 votes, but, at 38%, remains slightly lower than the national average of 39.9%.
Moray's results are more of less in line with the rest of Scotland, with slightly less support for parties in favour of remaining within the EU and more for parties in favour of Brexit.
Scotland is yet to officially declare it's results, due to the Western Isles not counting until on the Sabbath, but current results show it has been a good night for the SNP.
Nicola Sturgeon's party will take three MEPs, with the Lib Dems, Tories and Brexit Party taking one apiece.
