Perth and Kinross turned yellow on Friday morning, as voters comfortably elected two nationalist MPs.
The SNP’s Pete Wishart and John Nicolson took the two Westminster parliamentary seats on a dramatic night across the UK.
Ochil and South Perthshire was expected to be a major battleground and had been dubbed “too close to call” in the hours leading up to Thursday’s vote.
But Mr Nicolson comfortably took the seat as tactical voting saw Conservative Luke Graham ousted.
Former East Dunbartonshire MP Mr Nicolson won almost 27,000 votes to beat Mr Graham with a majority of 4498.
It was even more comfortable for Mr Wishart, who won over 50 per cent of the popular vote to ease to victory ahead of Angus Forbes of the Tories.
Mr Wishart, who was first elected in 2001, said after his victory: “One of the most important features I believe is that Scotland has chosen a different and distinct future to the rest of the UK and that choice will have a profound consequences for the future of our nation.”
Despite now preparing for a return to Westminster, Mr Nicolson was wary of the future, saying: “I’m very pleased with the result across Scotland, but my pleasure is tempered by what I see south of the border. Boris Johnson has a thumping majority.
“It’s terrifying what that means for the constituency and the country.”
Read more in our updated election special, in shops tomorrow.
