Angus Robertson holds Moray with biggest majority ever
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ANGUS Robertson held Moray for the SNP.
Mr Robertson, first elected to represent Moray in 2001, was returned with an increased majority.
The SNP’s Westminster leader and electiona campaign director polled 24,384 votes, giving him a 9,065 majority over Conservative Douglas Ross.
Labour’s Sean Morton finished third with UKIP candidate Rob Scorer edging ahead of the Liberal Democrat’s Jamie Paterson and James Mackessack-Leitch, the first ever Green candidate to stand in Moray.
Mr Robertson said: "First and foremost I thank the people of Moray for backing me to continue as their Member of Parliament for a fourth term.
"People have voted for the SNP in Moray in record numbers with a record percentage of the vote and I am honoured to be able to serve the people of Moray and represent this fantastic constituency once again.
"The efforts of hundreds of SNP activists across Moray in taking our message out to communities has been unprecedented and I also thank all of the election workers, without whom the election couldn’t happen.
"Across Moray and Scotland the people have delivered a huge message to Westminster. Scotland will not be taken for granted and we expect and demand respect from the UK Government on the issues that matter to our country.
"I am being joined at Westminster by an incredible group of 56 SNP MPs from a diverse range of backgrounds and with huge amount of talent. We will use that talent to be Stronger for Scotland and make Moray’s and all of Scotland’s communities voices heard loudly and clearly.
"The declaration of the result in Moray happens to take place on V.E. Day and it is a particular honour that one of my first tasks as an MP is to lay a wreath at the cenotaph marking the 70th Anniversary of the Victory in Europe.
"I reflect on the fact that every community was touched by the loss of loved ones in the Second World War, which claimed the lives of millions of soldiers and civilians from Scotland, the UK and right across the world.
"That enormous loss occurred as ordinary people fought to protect the fundamental freedoms that we hold dear and which allow us to continue to choose our representatives through debate and discussion and through the millions of votes that have been cast this week."
It was a stunning night for the SNP, with the party taking 56 of the 59 Scottish seats available.
The Nationalists will be the third largest party at Westminster, a result which is a personal triumph for Mr Robertson, who was director of the SNP’s election campaign.
Scottish Labour senior figures Douglas Alexander and Jim Murphy, the Scottish leader, both lost their seats to the SNP, while Liberal Democrats Charles Kennedy and Danny Alexander were also ousted by the Nationalists.
Former First Minister Alex Salmond was among the 56 SNP MPs elected, after winning the Gordon seat from the Liberal Democrats with an 8,000 majority.
Moray results:
Angus Robertson (SNP) 24,384 (49.5%)
Douglas Ross (Conservative) 15,319 (31.1%)
Sean Morton (Labour) 4,898 (9.9%)
Robert Scorer (UKIP) 1,939 (3.9%)
Jamie Paterson (Liberal Democrat) 1,395 (2.8%)
James MacKessack-Leitch (Greeens) 1,345 (2.7%)
