Edinburgh's election 2021: Capital now has four SNP MSPs, one Labour and one Lib Dem

The Holyrood election in Edinburgh saw record turnouts, increased majorities and one seat change hands as the SNP’s Angus Robertson took Edinburgh Central from the Tories.
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The SNP now holds four of the Capital’s six constituencies, with Labour and the Lib Dems having one each.

But the party balance among Lothian’s list MSPs remains the same as before – three Conservatives, two Labour and two Greens.

Ben MacPherson  SNP  Edinburgh Northern & LeithBen MacPherson  SNP  Edinburgh Northern & Leith
Ben MacPherson SNP Edinburgh Northern & Leith
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After Friday’s drama of Mr Robertson’s victory in the seat previously won by former Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson, Lib Dem Alex Cole-Hamilton’s win with nearly 55 per cent of the vote in Edinburgh Western and Daniel Johnson’s success in holding Edinburgh Southern for Labour, the second day of counting on Saturday produced big majorities for the sitting SNP MSPs in the city’s other three seats.

Ben Macpherson was returned in Edinburgh Northern and Leith by a margin of 11,569 votes over Labour, but the Greens finished in third place while the Labour and Tory votes both fell.

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Scottish Election 2021: SNP's Angus Robertson wins Edinburgh Central formerly he...

Ash Denham won again in Edinburgh Eastern with a majority of 10,117 and 52 per cent of the votes. Labour and the Tories were both down.

Susan Webber  Con  Lothian listSusan Webber  Con  Lothian list
Susan Webber Con Lothian list

And Gordon MacDonald was re-elected in Edinburgh Pentlands with a 3,897 majority over the Tories and the highest number of SNP votes ever.

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He said: “What is more remarkable is that this was achieved in atrocious weather, which would normally reduce turnout, but the people wanted their voice heard.

“The world is watching and Scotland wants to join the family of nations - it’s just a matter of time.”

All the Edinburgh seats saw higher turnouts than at any election since the Scottish Parliament was set up in 1999. The biggest increase was in Edinburgh Northern and Leith where the number casting their vote rose by 7.7 per cent to 63 per cent. But Edinburgh Western saw the best turnout with 71.5 per cent of voters taking part – almost seven per cent more than its previous highest – closely followed by Edinburgh Southern at 71 per cent.

Gordon MacDonald SNP  Edinburgh PentlandsGordon MacDonald SNP  Edinburgh Pentlands
Gordon MacDonald SNP Edinburgh Pentlands

Elsewhere in Lothian, the SNP’s Fiona Hyslop was returned in Linlithgow with a 10,105 majority, although her share of the vote dipped while Labour, the Tories and Lib Dems increased theirs slightly.

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Next door in Almond Valley, Nationalist colleague Angela Constance saw her majority increase to 12,130 while the Labour vote dropped.

And in Midlothian North & Musselburgh, Colin Beattie was returned for the SNP with a majority of 7,906 but Labour increased its share of the vote while the Tories’ fell.

The SNP’s Christine Grahame increased her majority in Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale to 6,826 with the Tories in second place on a higher share of the vote.

Ash Denham SNP  Edinburgh EasternAsh Denham SNP  Edinburgh Eastern
Ash Denham SNP Edinburgh Eastern

And she has a new Nationalist neighbour, Paul McLennan, who won East Lothian – the first seat to change hands in Friday’s count. His Labour opponent Martin Whitfield and Tory opponent Craig Hoy were both elected as MSPs on the South of Scotland list.

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The Lothian list, the last set of results to be announced on Saturday evening, saw Tories Miles Briggs and Jeremy Balfour return along with newcomer Susan Webber, currently a city councillor; Labour’s Foysol Choudhury became the area’s first ethnic minority MSP when he was elected along with Sarah Boyack; and Scottish Greens’ co-leader Lorna Slater joined Alison Johnstone.

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