Lib Dems gain Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch

By Jamie McDonald

Lib Dems gain Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch

Andrew Baxter has been elected as the Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch in the Holyrood election.

He enters parliament for the first time after serving as a Highland councillor.

Full results for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch:

Andrew Baxter – Scottish Liberal Democrats – 15,223
Eilidh Munro – SNP – 14,273
Jon Whitton – Reform UK – 4,669
Helen Crawford – Scottish Conservatives – 2,731
Isla McCay – Scottish Labour – 1,751
Laùra Hänsler – Alliance to Liberate Scotland – 506

Turnout in the constituency fell by more than 10%, with 39,357 votes cast.

Andrew Baxter

The seat was previously held by Kate Forbes, who served as Deputy First Minister in the Scottish Government. She decided not to seek re-election and discussed the decision in an extended interview last month.

It is the first time the seat has not been held by the SNP since it was created in 2011.

In his victory speech, Mr Baxter thanked his colleagues and family for their support. He also paid tribute to his fellow candidates.

He said the hustings events attended during the campaign, including the Radio Skye debate in Portree, were among the “politest and most thoughtful” he had experienced.

Mr Baxter said he would “work tirelessly” to represent the constituency in Holyrood.

SNP candidate, Eilidh Munro said:

“I’m disappointed by the result today but very grateful to everyone who cast a vote for me in what was a very close contest. The SNP fought a positive, hopeful campaign in Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch and I’ll always be proud of that. We’ll hold the Lib Dems to the promises they have made to locals and challenge again.”

Elsewhere, the Highlands and Islands was the last region to declare, with seven MSPs elected.

Full regional results:

• Reform (Vic Currie and Max Bannerman)
• Scottish Greens (Arianne Burgess and Kristopher Leask)
• SNP (Maree Todd)
• Scottish Conservatives (Tim Eagle)
• Scottish Lib Dems (Morven-May MacCallum)

The two other Highland constituencies finished as follows:

Caithness, Ross and Sutherland

David Green – Scottish Liberal Democrats

Inverness and Nairn

Emma Roddick – SNP

Overall results:

• SNP – 58
• Reform – 17
• Scottish Labour – 17
• Scottish Greens – 15
• Scottish Conservatives – 12
• Scottish Liberal Democrats – 10