Breaking: Fergus Ewing holds the Inverness and Nairn seat for the SNP with a majority of more than 9000 votes
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The Inverness and Nairn constituency has been declared for Fergus Ewing, who has held the seat since 1999, in what is another big Highland win for the SNP.
He won the seat with 21,793 votes, in second place was Conservative candidate Edward Mountain who got 12,679 – a majority of 9114 for Mr Ewing.
They were followed by Labour's Rhoda Grant on 5370, Liberal Democrat newcomer David Gregg on 2892, the Greens Ariane Burgess with 2636 and finally Restore Scotland's Andrew MacDonald who got 361.
It is a significant win for Mr Ewing who has been the Inverness and Nairn MSP for 22 years, something he puts down to working to help people and convince them they can have confidence in his ability to deliver.
Speaking afterwards he said the first job of the government was to concentrate on recovery and again committed to getting the A9 will be dualled by 2025.
“This is the result of an awful lot of hard work over 22 years helping people so that plays a part and a clear message of where we want to make progress in the Highlands and Islands," he said.
“But the first task is really to complete job of Covid recovery and it is on that that we want have a sharp laser-focus over the next few months.
“I think the vote has gone up every time which from my point of view is quite satisfactory, to me it is not the numbers that is so important it is about building up trust and confidence.
“People will vote for someone if they have trust and confidence in him or her and they feel that you will do a good job, you will follow through and you will deliver, you get things done for the Highlands.
“That is what I have tried to focus on rather than get sidetracked into saying why other people are wrong, I don’t really do that and frankly I haven’t got the will to do that but I do try to help people and get things done.
“I have a great team in the MSP office and as a government minister where I have been able to help with a team to help things, like the dualling of the A9, the new justice campus, commitment for the new prison to be built, a new academy for Nairn, a bypass for Nairn. And sualling of the A9 to be complete by 2025, delivery of the castle project by 2024, which will be a major centre of excellence for tourists and locals alike.
“So all these things are what I spend my time on, rather than slagging off other parties, what is the point? My view having fought eight elections and won the last six is people don’t want to hear why other people are wrong – they want to hear why you are right.”
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