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SNP 'strong' in Euro poll results SNP 'strong' in Euro poll results
(31 minutes later)
Scottish results in the European elections are being announced, with predictions that the SNP could take the largest share of the vote.Scottish results in the European elections are being announced, with predictions that the SNP could take the largest share of the vote.
Labour is bracing itself for a bad result across the UK as pressure continues on Gordon Brown's leadership.Labour is bracing itself for a bad result across the UK as pressure continues on Gordon Brown's leadership.
The SNP took first place in Edinburgh with the Tories second, Labour third and the Lib Dems fourth.The SNP took first place in Edinburgh with the Tories second, Labour third and the Lib Dems fourth.
And the Tories were first in East Renfrewshire - the Westminster seat held by the Scottish secretary.And the Tories were first in East Renfrewshire - the Westminster seat held by the Scottish secretary.
The SNP came second and Labour was third in the area, which is represented by Jim Murphy at the UK parliament.The SNP came second and Labour was third in the area, which is represented by Jim Murphy at the UK parliament.
The official Scottish result will be revealed on Monday, as the the Western Isles does not count votes on the Sabbath.The official Scottish result will be revealed on Monday, as the the Western Isles does not count votes on the Sabbath.
This is going to be a bad night, a very troubled night for Labour Brian TaylorBBC Scotland political editor 'Pretty pleased'
However, a substantial picture of the outcome north of the border is expected to emerge overnight. Scotland's deputy first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said: "The Labour vote has absolutely collapsed.
BBC Scotland's political editor, Brian Taylor, predicted the SNP would be placed first in the vote. "We can take two broad messages from that - firstly these election results, although they're European elections, have to be taken as an enormous vote of confidence in the SNP Government.
"In the Scottish parliamentary elections, they outpolled Labour for the first time ever - the first time in 50 years that Labour had not come first in an election in Scotland," he said, adding: "It's going to happen again, in my view. She added: "People have lost faith completely with Labour." Stirling Labour MP Anne McGuire said her party would take stock of Labour's share of the popular vote in the Euro polls.
"The question is how far Labour slip - could they slip sufficiently far that they can't hold on to their two Scottish MEP seats? This is going to be a bad night, a very troubled night for Labour." "Sometimes, we have to put elections into some sort of perspective," she said, adding: "It's not the night that I would wish for, but the SNP did spectacularly badly at the last Euro elections."
Willie Rennie, the Liberal Democrat MP for Dunfermline and West Fife, said he was "pretty pleased" with the result.
He said: "In European elections, we don't tend to do as well as we do in other elections like locals or the general. But this time we've held up our vote."
Shadow Scottish Secretary David Mundell, said: "I'm particularly pleased that we've polled very well in the areas that we need to win additional seats at Westminster - East Renfrewshire, Dumfries and Galloway, the Borders and seats like Edinburgh South."
Scotland, which is counted as a single region in European parliamentary terms, will return six MEPs - one fewer than in the last parliament.Scotland, which is counted as a single region in European parliamentary terms, will return six MEPs - one fewer than in the last parliament.
Candidates from across Scotland will hear their fate when the official announcement is made from the historic Mercat Cross in Edinburgh on Monday morning.Candidates from across Scotland will hear their fate when the official announcement is made from the historic Mercat Cross in Edinburgh on Monday morning.