Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Politics
Dave Burke

Nicola Sturgeon dances with joy as SNP topples Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson

It's not been a bad night for the SNP, with the party taking seats across Scotland.

And leader Nicola Sturgeon could barely contain her joy when she learned her party had unseated Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson.

Hilarious footage from Sky News shows her joyfully cheering as Amy Callaghan won the backing of voters in East Dunbartonshire.

With clenched fists and a huge smile across her face, Sturgeon spun around in a jubilant celebration.

Her celebration was branded "iconic" after it was shared on social media.

Not everyone was impressed with her, however, with Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage writing: "Graceless and nasty from Sturgeon."

Others saw the funny side, with one Twitter user writing: "Nicola Sturgeon's reaction to Jo Swinson losing her seat to Amy Callaghan is iconic."

The Scottish National Party, which strongly opposes Brexit, was tipped to win 55 of the 59 seats in Scotland - setting the scene for it to demand a second independence vote.

Ms Sturgeon said Boris Johnson did not have a mandate to take Scotland out of the EU.

"We don't want Brexit," Sturgeon said. "Boris Johnson may have a mandate to take England out of the European Union, he emphatically does not have a mandate to take Scotland out of the European Union."

With the Conservatives seemingly on track for a majority at Westminster, allowing Mr Johnson to push ahead with his Brexit plans, Ms Sturgeon said the UK-wide picture is "pretty grim".

But in Scotland, the SNP has gained seats from both Labour and the Conservatives - including in East Lothian, where the former Scottish justice secretary Kenny MacAskill defeated Labour to be returned as the new MP for the area.

Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson loses her seat to SNP

The SNP also ousted Tories Kirstene Hair in Angus and Paul Masterton in East Renfrewshire, as well as defeating Labour's Danielle Rowley in Midlothian and Ged Killen in Rutherglen and Hamilton West.

Meanwhile Pete Wishart became the SNP's longest serving MP after retaining his Perth and North Perthshire seat with a significantly increased majority.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.