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Conservatives keep hold of southern Scotland seats – BBC News
- Author, Giancarlo Rinaldi
- Role, South Scotland reporter
The Conservatives have retained their three seats across the south of Scotland at the general election.
It was a long night at the count in Dumfries with declarations not coming until after 09:30 – among the latest in the whole of the UK.
In the end, David Mundell was returned once more for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale and John Cooper elected in Alister Jack’s old seat of Dumfries and Galloway.
In the Borders, John Lamont had kicked off the Conservative hat-trick earlier in the morning by retaining his Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk seat.
Mr Mundell said he was “absolutely delighted” with his result because he had achieved what not many in his party had done and been returned with an increased majority.
“It is a huge honour for me to be elected in this constituency for the sixth time,” he said.
“I don’t take any election for granted and I am humbled to be re-elected today.”
Mr Mundell’s share of the vote fell significantly with his closest challenge coming from Kim Marshall of the SNP with Daniel Coleman increasing the Labour vote in third place.
They were followed by Reform’s David Kirkwood, Drummond Begg for the Scottish Liberal Democrats, Dominic Ashmole for the Greens and Gareth Kirk of the Scottish Family Party.
There was also celebration for the Conservatives in Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk as John Lamont held on to his seat comfortably despite a drop in his share of the vote.
The SNP vote also fell as David Wilson finished second while Labour moved into third thanks to Caitlin Stott and the Lib Dems fourth in the shape of Ray Georgeson.
They were followed by Carolyn Grant (Reform), Neil MacKinnon (Green), Ellie Merton (Independent) and Hamish Goldie-Scot (Scottish Family Party).
Image source, Scottish Borders Council
Mr Lamont thanked everyone who had helped him to buck the trend seen in the wider general election.
“I am delighted, I am very grateful to the voters in the Borders for renewing their trust in me with an increased majority particularly in the national context with the Conservatives losing many seats,” he said.
“I am pleased to be back, I am pleased to be back with a bigger majority and I will continue to work as hard as I possibly can on behalf of the people of the Borders.
“My focus is very much on the Borders and promoting all the things that go on here.”
Image source, Dumfries and Galloway Council
The last result to be declared was also the closest with John Cooper for the Conservatives seeing off the challenge of the SNP’s Tracey Little by fewer than 1,000 votes.
Labour saw a big surge in its support with James Wallace a close third with Charles Keal (Reform), Lib Dem Iain McDonald, Green Laura Moodie and David Griffiths (Heritage) behind him.
Mr Cooper said it was a “great honour” to be elected to represent the area.
“I am under no illusions that the hard work starts here and now,” he said.
It brought to an end a long night with the final declaration in Dumfries not coming until about 10:30.
Early estimates had been that it would come about six hours earlier.
In the end, though, it remained the Conservatives who had most to smile about as – despite seeing their share of the vote fall – they kept a blue band across the south of the country.
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