WATCH: Logan storms to dramatic victory for SNP in new Aberdeenshire North and Moray East constituency
THE SNP’s Seamus Logan has pulled off a stunning victory to claim the new Aberdeenshire North and Moray East constituency.
He fended off the challenge of outgoing Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross despite an EXIT poll giving him a 99 per cent chance of winning the seat for the Tories. Mr Logan had been given just a one per cent chance of tasting victory.
Mr Logan topped the poll with 13,455 votes ahead of Mr Ross on 12,513. As in many other constituencies across the country, it is more than likely that Reform UK fatally damaged the chance of a Tory win, the party’s candidate, Jo Hart finishing third with 5562.
In fourth, with 3876 votes, was Labour’s Andy Brown and, bringing up the rear, was Ian Bailey for the Liberal Democrats on 2782 votes.
The total number of votes cast were 38,358, with 170 ballots rejected, a turnout of 54.75 per cent.
WATCH: The result declaration and Mr Logan’s full acceptance speech:
After thanking all those involved in the electoral process, Mr Logan said: “Primarily, I want to thank everyone who voted for me, that's the first thing I want to say.
“Thank you everyone for having the confidence to trust me as your MP for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East. Thank you.
“I’d like to pay tribute to all of our supporters and activists who delivered this result. But more than anybody else I want to single out one person and that's my election agent Ross Cassie. I regard him as something of a genius.
“Now some of you may know it's been a very difficult few days. My wife lost her mother just a few days ago and this afternoon we'll be putting her to rest so it's been a very, very difficult time for us as a family and so after tonight I'll just want to focus on that, but I am so honoured and so privileged to be selected as the MP for this constituency.
“I just want to say to people I promise you I will reward your confidence in me by delivering on the promises that I made to you in the election campaign and I look forward to joining my colleagues in the SNP in Westminster.”
It proved to be an eventful campaign for Mr Ross, Mr Brown and Ms Hart. Mr Ross caused shockwaves by first of all throwing his hat into the ring after previously stating he would not stand for Westminster. He candidacy was at the expense of the sitting Tory MP David Duguid.
Mr Brown was accused of making social media posts claiming Russia and the country’s president, Vladimir Putin, bore no responsibility for the Salisbury poisonings in 2018 - an accusation he strongly denies. Meanwhile, Ms Hart also courted controversy on social media, posting anti-royal comments during the late Queen’s jubilee in 2022.
Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has already conceded the election with, at the time of writing, Labour on 391 and the Conservatives routed on 97.
