Voters were urged to ‘send message’

VOTERS cast their ballots yesterday in an election dominated by national issues and the cost-of-living crisis.

Opposition leaders have spent weeks urging the public to “send a message” to governments in Westminster and Holyrood.

The cost-of-living crisis, prompted by an increase in fuel bills, national insurance contributions and inflation, has been top of the agenda for many of the country’s biggest parties throughout the campaign.

But the ongoing scandal of partygate may also be a factor. Prime

Minister Boris Johnson, his wife Carrie and Chancellor Rishi Sunak were given police fines for a party held in Downing Street at the height of the pandemic.

Paired with the resignation of MP Neil Parish for watching porn in the House of Commons, the situations at Westminster were expected to play a key role in the outcome.

The Scottish Tories have seen a downturn in fortunes in recent weeks, with polls suggesting the party could fall to third place behind the SNP and Labour.

Many parties fear voter turnout could be badly affected but it is proUnion parties such as Labour and the Lib Dems who could fair best if Conservative voters decide to opt to back another side.

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon and Labour rival Anas Sarwar cast their votes in Glasgow.

Scottish Green Party co-leader Patrick Harvie also voted in Glasgow while fellow co-leader Lorna Slater cast her vote in Edinburgh, with Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton also voting there.

Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross wished his party’s candidates good luck as he voted in Moray, while former first minister and Alba party leader Alex Salmond cast his ballot in Strichen, Aberdeenshire.

Poll workers line up with ballot boxes in preparation to be counted.