General Election 2024: Lib Dems win Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire

Following a second recount, Angus MacDonald has been elected as the MP for the Highland constituency.

(L-R) Angus MacDonald with wife Michie
Author: Liam RossPublished 6th Jul 2024
Last updated 6th Jul 2024

The Liberal Democrats have won the Westminster seat for Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire.

Following a second recount, Angus MacDonald has been elected as the MP for the Highland constituency.

This comes after the man who was aiming to be re-elected, Drew Hendry, admitted defeat after nine years serving the area.

The number of votes each candidate received.

This means we now know the confirmed results from this year's general election, including Labour winning 412 seats, Conservatives 121, and Lib Dems picking up 72.

In Scotland, the SNP fall to nine from a previous 48.

Labour won 37 seats in Scotland, adding to the party's major lead in the UK, while the Scottish Tories won five but suffered the loss of Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross in the Aberdeenshire North and Moray East seat.

The delay with the vote counting process in the Highlands was due to a difference between the total of verified votes and the provisional number of counted votes.

Despite this Drew Hendry, who has been the SNP MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey for the last nine years, said he was "obviously disappointed not to be continuing that representation" for the newly named constituency.

He also confirmed on Friday that he wouldn't be attending Saturday's recount, due to "unmovable prior commitment".

Mr Hendry said: "It has been an absolute joy to serve the people of Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey for the past nine years. I am obviously disappointed not to be continuing that representation under the new Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire boundary and wish the new MP every success in his new role.

"People need an MP who will fight for their needs both local and at UK level and during this cost-of-living crisis, they have never needed help and assistance more.

"The second recount is obviously an extraordinary situation that couldn't have been predicted and it's frustrating and disappointing that I cannot attend, but I have an unmovable prior commitment.

"I would like to use this opportunity to publicly thank the constituents I've proudly served for their support, my fabulous and hard-working constituency team, our campaign volunteers and my ever-supportive family.

"The council, emergency staff and our local postal workers have been under incredible pressure in this election and my team and I am thankful for all they have done and for the work they have yet to do.

"To everyone - we have so much to be proud of here in the Highlands. Our region has opportunity in abundance and a fantastic reputation, and I will continue to work with others to realise that potential and improve outcomes for people living and working here."

Yesterday, Lib Dem Jamie Stone retained his seat in Westminster by winning Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross while the SNP's Graham Leadbitter was elected for Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey.

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