SNP hold Kilmarnock & Irvine Valley as Willie Coffey…

SNP hold Kilmarnock & Irvine Valley as Willie Coffey returned again to Scottish Parliament

Willie Coffey today admitted it was a "humbling experience" to receive the emphatic backing of voters and be returned as Kilmarnock's MSP for a fourth time.

The 62-year-old comfortably held Kilmarnock & Irvine Valley for the SNP with an increased majority.

The result was announced just after 3pm at the Galleon Centre in Kilmarnock with NHS worker Kevin McGregor delivering a creditable second place for Scottish Labour and Scottish Conservative Brian Whittle coming third.

Mr Coffey's share of the vote was slightly down in percentage terms on 2016 but after pulling in more than half the vote, there was no denying the thumping nature of his victory.

He told Ayrshire Live: "It's an absolute privilege and an honour to get more than 50 per cent of the vote in an election. You've got to be pleased with that.

"It's a very humbling experience to be honest with you. When you go into the political world, and you put your name on the line, and you see people you have known all your life give you an endorsement – it really is pretty humbling.

"I got a great sense throughout the constituency that we had done it.

"Voters were saying two things to us. They were complimenting the First Minister [Nicola Sturgeon] for guiding us through the pandemic but they were also very conscious of the independence plans put forward.

"There is a mandate from the people of Kilmarnock & Irvine Valley to have that independence referendum and I'm so pleased to be able to say that."

However, constitutional matters will take a back seat as Mr Coffey acknowledged the priority when he returns to Holyrood will be the Covid pandemic which has blighted everybody's lives for more than a year.

He added: "We've got to get through this. We have got to get the country safe and stable and then we can think about the plans to take Scotland forward."

Both Labour and the Tories improved on their 2016 performance with turnout also up more than six per cent on five years ago while postal vote turnout in the constituency was just over 86 per cent.

Tory Mr Whittle, himself a South Scotland MSP in the last parliament, will be hoping to get back to Holyrood on the regional list again with those results expected tomorrow night.

Meanwhile, counting continues at the Galleon this weekend with the Carrick, Cumnock & Doon Valley constituency result to be announced tomorrow afternoon.

East Ayrshire Council depute leader Elena Whitham is looking to hold the seat for the SNP after health secretary Jeane Freeman's decision to stand down ahead of the election.