EX-SNP Westminster leader an MSP after Edinburgh Central win

Former SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson has returned to frontline politics – winning the Holyrood seat formerly occupied by Ruth Davidson.

Mr Robertson won the Edinburgh Central seat, beating Tory Scott Douglas by 16,276 votes to 11,544, overturning a majority of 810 held by the exconservative leader in the last parliamentary term.

Speaking after his election, Mrrobertsonsaidvotersinthe seathadrejectedborisjohnson and Brexit. The SNP remains theonlypartywhichhasgained seats,takingtwoconstituencies from the Tories and one from Labour .

"We have just won the seat of theformerleaderofthescottish Conservativesandrecordedour best ever SNP result," he said.

"The people, many of whom stood in queues of rain and hail yesterday, have spoken and their democratic choice has been to elect an SNP MSP for Edinburgh Central, in support ofansnpscottishgovernment dealingwithcovidrecovery,for the re-election of Nicola Sturgeon as First Minister and that

Scotland's future should be in Scotland's hands."

He added: "In this most European of capital cities, people have resoundingly rejected the party of Brexit and Boris Johnson."

Meanwhile in Ayr, the SNP'S Siobhian Brown defeated the Tory incumbent John Scott, who had held the seat since 2000, by 18,881 votes to 18,711.

Msbrownreversedamajority ofjust750votes,winningby170.

Scottish Labour won 4,766 votes in the seat, while the Liberal Democrats took just 808, with a turnout of 68 per cent of the electorate.