SNP only party to make gains as Ayr and East Lothian fall

The SNP is the only party so far to take a seat from another party in the Holyrood election, with two constituencies falling to Scotland’s ruling party.

In Ayr, Siobhian Brown defeated the incumbent John Scott, who had held the seat since 2000, by 18,881 votes to 18,711.

Ms Brown reversed a majority of just 750 votes, winning by 170.

SNP GAIN from the Tories! That’s the twenty-seventh SNP victory!@Siobhianayr GAINS Ayr for the SNP. #SP21 #SNPWin pic.twitter.com/AijCHo2qX9

— The SNP (@theSNP) May 7, 2021

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

Earlier on Friday, Paul McLennan won 17,968 votes in the East Lothian seat, which was held by former Labour leader Iain Gray until his retirement this year.

Mr Gray boasted a majority of 1,127, but after a 2.58% swing that has now shifted to a 1,179-vote lead for the SNP.

Scottish Labour candidate Martin Whitfield won 16,789 votes with a turnout of 69%.

In the last parliamentary term, the SNP held 63 seats, just two shy of an overall majority.

The Scottish Tories won 9,470 votes in East Lothian, while the Liberal Democrats took 1,556.