General Election: Douglas Ross defeated by SNP and Stephen Flynn's re-election "bitter-sweet"

It was a night of mixed emotions for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire candidates with losses, gains and tough outlooks on a UK-wide scale for some parties.

All eyes were on the Aberdeen count with Douglas Ross hopeful of securing Aberdeenshire North and Moray East and SNP's Westminster leader Stephen Flynn looking to clutch onto his Aberdeen South seat amid a bleak outlook for the party across the country.

Aberdeenshire North and Moray East

Outgoing Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross missed out on a seat in the house of commons after being defeated by the SNP's Seamus Logan.

The P&J Live, where the Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire count was being held, erupted with cheers from SNP activists and colleagues as it was announced Seamus Logan had been successful in Aberdeenshire North and Moray East.

He won with 13,455 votes, whilst Mr Ross was close behind with 12,513 votes.

Following the result, Douglas Ross said he did not regret his decision to enter the race at the last minute having previously announced he would not be standing in the General Election.

His colleague, David Duguid, was told he would not be the party's chosen candidate after suffering a spinal injury which left him hospitalised for several weeks.

Instead, Douglas Ross controversially stepped in which eventually led to him stepping down as leader of the Scottish Conservatives.

He said: "The circumstances were very challenging and I didn't have very long to think about it but in my consideration I knew there was a real risk I wouldn't win this seat, I wouldn't be able to hold onto it, but knowing that I put my name forward and I went out there to try and get as much support as possible.

"Sadly, we've fallen short on this occasion I think there are circumstances around me being the candidate, but I think you've got to look at more than 5 thousand votes going to reform and that's why we've lost this seat, that's why we have an SNP MP in this area."

In Seamus Logan's victory speech, he thanked his voters for "having the confidence to trust me as your MP for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East."

The Fraserburgh councillor stressed it has been a "very difficult few days" having lost his mother-in-law just a few days ago.

Voting breakdown:

SNP: 13,455

Conservatives: 12,513

Labour: 3,876

Lib Dems: 2,783

Reform: 5,562

Aberdeen South

SNP's Westminster leader Stephen Flynn held his seat in Aberdeen South but admitted it was a "bitter-sweet" moment as his party saw a dramatic loss of 38 seats across the country.

He was re-elected with 15,213 votes, claiming it was a "very difficult night" for the party adding they had been caught up in a "Starmer tsunami".

When asked if voters are losing trust in the SNP, he said: "Yes. You don't lose elections unless you've lost something and generally in politics it's trust.

"Thankfully in Aberdeen I've been able to retain that but as a party, we've fallen massively short of where we needed to be and where we have been in the past.

"That's now incumbent upon us to all reflect upon what's gone wrong, to probably look in places where we haven't for a few years just to assess where the damage lay and then to unite and come together with a pathway forward into the Holyrood elections in two years."

Voting breakdown:

SNP: 15,213

Labour: 11,455

Conservatives: 11,300

Reform: 3,199

Lib Dems: 2,921

Greens: 1,609

Scottish Family Party: 423

Independent (Sophie Molly): 225

Aberdeen North

Kirsty Blackman held Aberdeen North - which she has represented since 2015 - with 14,533 votes.

She told us she felt "pretty chuffed" that the people of Aberdeen North have trusted her to represent the area once again.

She said: "We're hearing a lot of people saying they want a voice standing up for Scotland.

"We're hearing a lot of people saying they appreciate all of the work we do on behalf of the people of Aberdeen and Scotland and actually, they want someone down there. They want someone there making the case for Aberdeen, speaking for a future that's made in Scotland.

"They want people to be talking about the cost of living crisis and not to have an austerity agenda, so I think we've had a pretty clear show of support from folk in Aberdeen tonight."

Voting breakdown:

SNP: 14,533

Labour: 12,773

Conservatives: 5,881

Reform: 3,781

Lib Dems: 2,583

Greens: 1,275

Alba: 703

Scottish Family Party: 352

Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition: 214

Aberdeenshire West and Kincardine

Andrew Bowie was re-elected in Aberdeenshire West and Kincardine for a third time.

Mr Bowie said he was "delighted, ecstatic, honoured and humbled" with the result.

However, he highlighted it was disappointing Douglas Ross didn't make it across the line in Aberdeenshire North and Moray East but congratulated his colleague Harriet Cross.

He said: "It's great news to have Harriet, a fantastic colleague, fantastic champion for Gordon and Buchan in parliament with me.

"Championing the people of this area, championing the industries of this area, ensuring the voices of Aberdeen are heard in parliament and I look forward to working with her to ensure we are successful in that endeavour."

Voting breakdown:

Conservatives: 17,428

SNP: 13,987

Labout: 6,397

Lib Dems: 6,342

Reform: 3,497

Greens: 1,032

Independent (Iris Leask): 219

Independent (David Neill): 56

Gordon and Buchan

Conservatives gained Gordon and Buchan from the SNP with Harriet Cross receiving 14,418 votes.

The new constituency was previously Gordon, held by SNP's Richard Thomson, who narrowly missed out with 13,540 votes.

"I'm ecstatic. I'm so excited and happy but also I know how much of a responsibility it is." she said.

She stressed her focus is now on improving key road infrastructure such as the A96 north of Ellon and supporting the farming industry.

Voting breakdown:

Conservative: 14,418

SNP: 13,540

Lib Dems: 7,307

Labour: 4,686

Reform: 3,897

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