Lib Dems defeat SNP in final general election constituency count in Inverness

The Liberal Democrats say they are overjoyed after defeating the SNP in the final UK constituency to be declared in the General Election results, their Scottish leader has said.

Angus MacDonald has become the sixth Scottish Liberal Democrat MP, taking the Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire seat with 18,159 votes.

He secured a majority of 2,160 over Drew Hendry of the SNP, who had earlier conceded that he would not win the seat and took 15,999 votes.

The final result in the General Election was announced at around 6pm on Saturday, 44 hours after the polls closed at 10pm on Thursday evening, following a recount which began on Saturday morning.

But Angus MacDonald, a Scottish Liberal Democrats Highland councillor, was expected to be announced as the MP.

The SNP’s Drew Hendry , formerly MP for Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey, had contested the seat, which had been drawn up under new election boundary rules.

However, he conceded that he would now not win it, and said he would not attend the recount due to prior commitments.

“It has been an absolute joy to serve the people of Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey for the past nine years,” he said.

“I am obviously disappointed not to be continuing that representation under the new Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire boundary and wish the new MP every success in his new role.

“People need an MP who will fight for their needs both local and at UK level and during this cost-of-living crisis, they have never needed help and assistance more.

“The second recount is obviously an extraordinary situation that couldn’t have been predicted and it’s frustrating and disappointing that I cannot attend, but I have an unmovable prior commitment.

“I would like to use this opportunity to publicly thank the constituents I’ve proudly served for their support, my fabulous and hard-working constituency team, our campaign volunteers and my ever-supportive family.

“The council, emergency staff and our local postal workers have been under incredible pressure in this election and my team and I am thankful for all they have done and for the work they have yet to do.

“To everyone – we have so much to be proud of here in the Highlands. Our region has opportunity in abundance and a fantastic reputation, and I will continue to work with others to realise that potential and improve outcomes for people living and working here.”

It would put the Scottish Liberal Democrats on six seats and 72 UK-wide, while the SNP fall to nine from 48.

Labour won 37 seats in Scotland, adding to the party’s major lead in the UK, while the Scottish Tories won five but suffered the loss of Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross in the Aberdeenshire North and Moray East seat.