LABOUR WINS THREE SEATS FROM SNP IN THE CAPITAL
The UK Parliamentary General Election results for Edinburgh’s five constituencies were announced at the Royal Highland Centre this morning (Friday 5 July).
The Members of Parliament for each constituency are:
Edinburgh East & Musselburgh: Chris Murray, Scottish Labour Party (majority 3,715) – LAB GAIN
Outgoing MP Tommy Sheppard said: “Thank you to everyone who supported me at this election and I’d like to congratulate Chris Murray and wish him well.
“It’s been the privilege of my life to represent East Edinburgh and I will continue to play a part in building a future as an independent Scotland.
Edinburgh North & Leith: Tracy Gilbert, Scottish Labour Party (majority 7,268) – LAB GAIN
Outgoing MP Deirdre Brock said: “Thank you to everyone who supported me and all the wonderful people I met over the last nine years representing the best constituency in the country.
“I wish its new MP well in her new role.”
Edinburgh South: Ian Murray, Scottish Labour Party (majority 17,251) – LAB HOLD
Edinburgh South West: Scott Arthur, Scottish Labour Party (majority 6,217) – LAB GAIN
Edinburgh West: Christine Anne Jardine, Scottish Liberal Democrats (majority 16,470)
The results were announced by the Returning Officer for Edinburgh, Paul Lawrence, who said: ’d like to sincerely thank our fantastic colleagues in the Elections team and across the Council for their hard work, dedication, and diligence in what has been a challenging election to deliver under tight timescales.
“This is truly public service at its very best and one of the most important duties that we’re bound to carry out. I’d also like to thank Police Scotland, the candidates, agents, and media for working alongside us to conduct proceedings properly and efficiently.
“Our new MPs have my best wishes and I’m sure they will all be great representatives of our city and its people.
“Finally, I’d like to thank our residents for making their voices heard and taking the time to cast their votes.”
In what was a historic night for Labour, Scottish leader Anas Sarwar said:
In a dreadful night for nationalists, Edinburgh finds itself with NO SNP MPs. Deirdre Brock, Joanna Cherry and Tommy Sheppard all lost their seats in the Labour landslide.
The party lost FORTY seats across the country – including all of their seats in Edinburgh and Glasgow -and has been reduced to just nine seats across Scotland.
SNP leader John Swinney acknowledged: “I am sorry for the valued colleagues who have lost their seats. We need to learn from this setback, listen to the public and pick ourselves back up.
“We have to do that because we want to do the best for Scotland.”
The sentiment was echoed by local SNP North and Leith MSP Ben Macpherson, who said on X (Twitter): “A difficult night for @theSNP. I’m particularly sad for my two excellent local colleagues @DeidreBrock & @TommySheppard, & their brilliant teams.
“Thank you to them & all of our great @snpenl activists.
“We will learn, reflect & respond. For me the work continues later. #Persevere.”
The SNP has just two years until the next Scottish Parliament elections.