SNP MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Alasdair Allan, has congratulated Torcuil Crichton on his election as the new MP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar. The SNP’s candidate, Susan Thomson, came in second place with 21% of the vote, while the islands’ former MP Angus Brendan MacNeil, who had been sitting as an independent after quitting the SNP last year, came in third place with 10% of the vote.

Commenting, Alasdair Allan said:

“I am obviously disappointed with tonight’s result. However, I have seen firsthand how hard Susan has worked over the past few months to secure votes in what was always going to be a difficult election, particularly as a result of the independent candidate’s decision to stand, which unfortunately did divert SNP votes away from a number of pro-independence voters.

“Labour have also benefited from a huge tide flowing in their favour across the UK, with people being desperate to get the Tories out of government, despite the policies of the two parties being almost interchangeable (at least as expressed throughout this campaign).

“Although the SNP looks to have secured around 30% of the vote in Scotland, the first past the post system clearly is not reflecting this support in terms of the number of seats won. It is a real shame that so many fantastic and hard-working SNP colleagues have lost their seats, and I am also of course disappointed that we will for the first time in over two decades be sending a unionist MP to Westminster to represent our islands.

“Nonetheless, I would like to congratulate Torcuil on his election, and wish him the best in his new role.”