Will it be 3rd time lucky? Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire seat set to be last general election result
Voters in Inverness will have to wait until tomorrow to find who their MP will be.
After polling day yesterday and a count in Dingwall overnight, followed by a recount this morning, the result of the Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire is still unknown.
The chaos led to the count being abandoned this morning, with another recount - a third count overall - set to take place at the same venue tomorrow.
• The numbers behind the election count in the Highlands
With only two seats left to be declared in the UK, it looks likely this will be the final result as a recount for South Basildon and East Thurrock will get under way at 2pm today.
It is unclear if it will be the same counting team involved and what security measures may be needed overnight tonight in order to maintain the integrity of the process.
Returning officer Derek Brown - his first general election as Highland Council chief executive - said it was due to some numbers not tallying up as they should.
“During the formal checking of the totals for the Inverness, Skye, and West Ross-shire constituency count a discrepancy was identified between the verified votes total and the provisional number of counted votes,” he said.
“An accountancy check was carried out along with a visual check that did not resolve the discrepancy.
“A recount was then implemented to reconcile the difference between the totals.
“Following the recount, as returning officer, I have advised candidates and agents that I am unable to declare a result, therefore another recount will take place tomorrow morning at 10.30am.
“Candidates and agents have been informed at each stage of the count.”
It is understood that the seat is likely to be won by either SNP candidate Drew Hendry - who has been the MP for Inverness since 2015 - or Lib Dem candidate Angus MacDonald, who is a Highland councillor for Fort William and Ardnamurchan.
