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Angus Robertson holds Moray seat


By Joe Millican

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Angus Robertson celebrates his win with supporters last night.
Angus Robertson celebrates his win with supporters last night.

The SNP's Angus Robertson has retained his seat in Moray.

In what proved to be a great night for his party, Mr Robertson polled 24,384 votes in the Moray constituency, just under 50% of the overall ballot.

Second was Conservative Douglas with 15,319 votes; third was Labour's Sean Morton with 4,898; fourth was Rob Scorer of UKIP with 1,939; fifth was Liberal Democrat Jamie Paterson with 1,395, and sixth was James MacKessack-Leitch of the Green Party with 1,345.

Across Scotland, the SNP secured 56 of the 59 seats available.

However, having pledged to join Labour in locking the Conservative Party out of Wesminister, it was confirmed on Friday that the Tories have achieved a majority government.

In his acceptance speech, Mr Robertson described the night as a "tsunami", "earthquake" and "seismic shift" towards his party.

"None of us in Scotland have seen anything like it," he said.

He thanked his fellow candidates, describing the campaign as a "very good-natured contest".

"Most of all I must thank the voters because they voted in their record numbers and achieved the highest ever SNP vote in Moray," he said.

"It is the highest ever majority in Moray. It's an amazing result and I must pass on a huge degree of thanks."

In parliament, Mr Robertson said that SNP MPs would be rejecting austerity, voting against a £100 million renewal of the Trident nuclear programme, and addressing the UK's "broken" democratic system.

Mr Ross told the assembled crowd in Elgin Town Hall that it had "clearly been a great night for the SNP".

"I want to congratulate Angus on his victory in being elected," he said.

"There is no doubt that whoever was elected here tonight would have been extremely proud to represent the area, and Angus will continue to do that in his own way."

Mr Ross also said he was "very proud" of the increased Conservative vote in Moray, which was up 4%.

Mr Morton said that it was clear that Scotland had not turned towards his party.

"I despair of that but know we will build again," he said.

"What I will say to Angus is please be a member of parliament for the whole of Moray."

The turnout in Moray was 68.8%, with 49,321 votes cast from an electorate of 71,685.

Mr Robertson was defending a majority of almost 6,000 from his victory in 2010.

At that time, he polled 16,273 votes, against the Conservative Party's 10.683; the Labour Party’s 7,007; the Liberal Democrats’ 5,965 and UKIP’s 1,085.

Both Mr Ross (Conservative) and Mr Paterson (Liberal Democrat), who ran for their parties in Moray in 2010, stood again in Moray in 2015.

More pictures from election night in Moray, and interviews with all of the candidates, in next Friday's 'Northern Scot'

Angus Robertson addresses the crowd, while (from left) fellow candidates Douglas Ross, James MacKessack-Leitch, Sean Morton and Rob Scorer look on.
Angus Robertson addresses the crowd, while (from left) fellow candidates Douglas Ross, James MacKessack-Leitch, Sean Morton and Rob Scorer look on.
Conservative candidate Douglas Ross (right) congratulates Angus Robertson.
Conservative candidate Douglas Ross (right) congratulates Angus Robertson.

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