Scotland election results 2019: Sturgeon says SNP landslide 'mandate for indyref2'

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Image copyright PA Media Image caption SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon was in buoyant mood as she arrived at the Glasgow count

The SNP has made big gains across Scotland, with Nicola Sturgeon saying the country had sent a "clear message" on a second independence referendum.

The party won 48 seats after securing 45% of the vote - 8.1% more than in the last general election in 2017, when it won 35 seats.

The SNP also defeated Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson in East Dunbartonshire.

Ms Sturgeon said the result had exceeded her expectations.

The Conservatives have won six seats, the Liberal Democrats four and Labour one.

Neale Hanvey's victory in Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath is counted as an SNP gain from Labour because he was on the ballot paper as an SNP candidate.

Mr Hanvey had been suspended by the party over allegations he made anti-Semitic posts on social media, and will sit as an independent MP.

Scotland

After 59 of 59 seats

•  
  Scottish National Party SNP

  48 seats

  , +13 seats compared to 2017
•  
  Conservative CON

  6 seats

  , -7 seats compared to 2017
•  
  Liberal Democrat LD

  4 seats

  , +0 seats compared to 2017
•  
  Labour LAB

  1 seats

  , -6 seats compared to 2017

The Conservatives and Prime Minister Boris Johnson have won an overall majority across the UK after taking a string of former Labour strongholds in England and Wales.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said it was a "very disappointing night for the Labour Party" and confirmed he would not lead the party into the next election.

Ms Sturgeon, the Scottish first minister, had already pledged to send a letter to the prime minister before Christmas requesting that Holyrood be given the power to hold indyref2.

Speaking at the Glasgow count, she said she would not pretend that everyone who voted for her party will necessarily support independence.

But she said it was a "clear endorsement Scotland should get to decide our future and not have it decided for us".

Ms Sturgeon added: "Scotland has sent a very clear message - we don't want a Boris Johnson government, we don't want to leave the EU.

"The results across the rest of the UK are grim but underlines the importance of Scotland having a choice.

"Boris Johnson has a mandate to take England out of the EU but he must accept that I have a mandate to give Scotland a choice for an alternative future

Nicola Sturgeon says she won't pretend that every single person who voted SNP necessarily supports independence. But she will insist this result is a thumping endorsement of her demand for a second referendum.

She will make an official request in the next few days to be granted the legal power to hold an independence vote.

And we know that Boris Johnson will refuse, sparking a huge debate about whether the Conservatives are ignoring the democratic choice of Scottish voters.

It's a debate that can only escalate as we leave the EU - and one which may fuel support for independence itself

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack, who held Dumfries and Galloway for the Conservatives, said more people cast votes for unionist parties in Scotland than for the SNP.

And he was adamant the prime minister should continue to block Ms Sturgeon's calls for power to hold an independence ballot.

The Conservative vote had fallen by 3.5% to 25.1% across Scotland, while the Labour vote was down by 8.5% to 18.6%. The Liberal Democrat vote actually increased by 2.8% to 9.5% despite the loss of the party's leader.

https://www.bbc.com/news/election-2019-50766014

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