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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Result in sight on Holyrood race | Result in sight on Holyrood race |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| Labour and the SNP are almost neck-and-neck in the race to win the 2007 Scottish Parliament election. | Labour and the SNP are almost neck-and-neck in the race to win the 2007 Scottish Parliament election. |
| The Nationalists made significant gains, including Alex Salmond winning in Gordon and his deputy Nicola Sturgeon taking Glasgow Govan. | The Nationalists made significant gains, including Alex Salmond winning in Gordon and his deputy Nicola Sturgeon taking Glasgow Govan. |
| Labour has a total of 42 seats, The SNP has 42, The Liberal Democrats 16, the Conservatives 14 and the Greens one. | |
| A number of results were delayed after technical problems caused several counts to be suspended. | A number of results were delayed after technical problems caused several counts to be suspended. |
| In a night of high drama, Mr Salmond took the Gordon seat from the Liberal Democrats, while Ms Sturgeon won Glasgow Govan from Labour. | In a night of high drama, Mr Salmond took the Gordon seat from the Liberal Democrats, while Ms Sturgeon won Glasgow Govan from Labour. |
| The SNP also took Dundee West, Central Fife, Stirling, Kilmarnock and Loudoun and Livingston from Labour. | The SNP also took Dundee West, Central Fife, Stirling, Kilmarnock and Loudoun and Livingston from Labour. |
| There may be Labour governments and Labour first ministers in the decades to come, but never again will we say that the Labour Party assume that it has a divine right to rule Scotland Alex SalmondSNP leader | There may be Labour governments and Labour first ministers in the decades to come, but never again will we say that the Labour Party assume that it has a divine right to rule Scotland Alex SalmondSNP leader |
| Labour's Allan Wilson became the first minister to lose his seat when the Nationalists also claimed the Cunninghame North constituency. | |
| Tommy Sheridan, of the left-wing Solidarity Party, also failed to get re-elected, as did Scottish Senior Citizens' Unity Party candidate John Swinburne and Scottish Socialist Carolyn Leckie. | Tommy Sheridan, of the left-wing Solidarity Party, also failed to get re-elected, as did Scottish Senior Citizens' Unity Party candidate John Swinburne and Scottish Socialist Carolyn Leckie. |
| Independent health campaigner Jean Turner was also ousted, after Labour took the crucial Strathkelvin and Bearsden seat. | Independent health campaigner Jean Turner was also ousted, after Labour took the crucial Strathkelvin and Bearsden seat. |
| David Whitton, who formerly worked as a spokesman for the late Donald Dewar, won with a 3,388 majority. | David Whitton, who formerly worked as a spokesman for the late Donald Dewar, won with a 3,388 majority. |
| The changes in seats was not the only story of the election. There has been great controversy because of the new counting system employed for the first time. | |
| The Holyrood poll will see 129 MSPs elected | |
| The Electoral Commission is undertaking an inquiry into why up to 100,000 ballot papers were rejected by the high-tech counting machines. | |
| Mr Salmond said on Friday afternoon that he would order a judicial inquiry if he wins power and becomes first minister. | |
| At 1600 BST the majority of seats had come in and at that point Scotland's political editor Brian Taylor said outcomes could now be suggested. | At 1600 BST the majority of seats had come in and at that point Scotland's political editor Brian Taylor said outcomes could now be suggested. |
| In his blog, he speculated: "More gossip. How about 46 Labour (if they make that) plus 16 LibDems (if they make that) plus three Green (if they make that.) That adds up to 65. | |
| "That adds up, just, to a coalition majority. Possible? Right now, almost anything's possible." | "That adds up, just, to a coalition majority. Possible? Right now, almost anything's possible." |
| 'Terrific victory' | 'Terrific victory' |
| Mr Salmond said: "Scotland has changed for good and forever. | |
| "There may be Labour governments and Labour first ministers in the decades to come, but never again will we say that the Labour Party assume that it has a divine right to rule Scotland. | "There may be Labour governments and Labour first ministers in the decades to come, but never again will we say that the Labour Party assume that it has a divine right to rule Scotland. |
| "The Labour Party has no moral authority left to govern Scotland. Last night was a reminder that politicians exist to serve, not just to survive." | |
| Former Scottish Tory leader David McLetchie retained Edinburgh Pentlands with an increased majority, adding: "It's been a terrific victory for us in this constituency and I couldn't be happier." | Former Scottish Tory leader David McLetchie retained Edinburgh Pentlands with an increased majority, adding: "It's been a terrific victory for us in this constituency and I couldn't be happier." |
| Jack McConnell won Motherwell and Wishaw | Jack McConnell won Motherwell and Wishaw |
| But he expressed disappointment at indications that he would not be joined at Holyrood by a Lothians list MSP and said he was "angry and frustrated" with the counting problems that delayed his result until 0600 BST. | But he expressed disappointment at indications that he would not be joined at Holyrood by a Lothians list MSP and said he was "angry and frustrated" with the counting problems that delayed his result until 0600 BST. |
| The Tories snatched Roxburgh and Berwickshire from the Liberal Democrats, while also holding Galloway and Upper Nithsdale. | The Tories snatched Roxburgh and Berwickshire from the Liberal Democrats, while also holding Galloway and Upper Nithsdale. |
| Scottish Labour leader Jack McConnell said it had been the toughest election in recent Scottish history. | Scottish Labour leader Jack McConnell said it had been the toughest election in recent Scottish history. |
| He said: "We have won the debate. It remains to be seen tonight whether we have won the votes in individual constituencies. | He said: "We have won the debate. It remains to be seen tonight whether we have won the votes in individual constituencies. |
| "But whatever the result, I am sure the people of Scotland will be relieved that it is over, one way or the other." | "But whatever the result, I am sure the people of Scotland will be relieved that it is over, one way or the other." |
| Scottish Lib Dem leader Nicol Stephen said his party had positively campaigned in Scotland. | Scottish Lib Dem leader Nicol Stephen said his party had positively campaigned in Scotland. |
| "The Liberal Democrats, in this new Scottish Parliament, are determined to deliver on our key policies," he said. | "The Liberal Democrats, in this new Scottish Parliament, are determined to deliver on our key policies," he said. |
| "My commitment is to these policies and to a bright future for Scotland." | "My commitment is to these policies and to a bright future for Scotland." |