Swinney bolsters his majority in Perthshire North with win No 6

John Swinney became the longest-serving Scottish parliamentarian as he bolstered his majority in Perthshire North.

Mr Swinney – who was re-elected for the sixth time – described the result as emphatic.

Swinney’s closest rival at the polls has always been Conservative Murdo Fraser, who has contested Perthshire North in the three previous elections.

The long-serving Tory picked up 2,617 more votes than he did in 2016, but that would not have been enough to close Mr Swinney’s 3,336 majority.

That would have been before Mr Swinney added another 3,334 votes this time around, taking his new majority to 4,053.

Mr Swinney said: “I’m absolutely delighted with the election result.

“It’s wonderful to be reelected and to serve the people of this community.

“To do so with an increased majority and an increased gap between us and the Conservatives is a fantastic result, given the intensity of the contest we have just gone through.

“It looks like the SNP will emerge as the largest party.”

Perthshire North had been a target for the Conservatives, with only six other seats requiring a smaller swing.

Mr Fraser is top of the Tory list for the regional vote, so he is still almost certain to retain his seat at Holyrood.

The slenderest majority the Tories need to topple is in neighbouring Perthshire South and Kinross-shire.

The region’s ballot boxes will be opened and counted this morning.

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It is wonderful to serve the people of this community