Scotland election live: Labour gains from SNP in first Scottish seats declared

The Liberal Democrats have returned as a “major force in
British politics,” after “a few tough elections,” the party’s Scottish leader insists.

Alex Cole-Hamilton says he is “delighted” as the BBC’s exit
poll suggests the party will gain three seats in Scotland.

“The Liberal Democrats are going to take a huge leap forward
– not just in Scotland, where we’re already nailed-on for our three gains that
we were targeting – but across the British Isles, the Lib Dems are back.”

The MSP for Edinburgh Western adds: “I said at the start of
this campaign, we’re going to retain more Lib Dem MPs than nationalist MPs
onto the green benches at the House of Commons. That has happened, and my
goodness by a country mile it has too.”