ELECTION COUNT . . . the scene in the Easterbrook Hall, Dumfries, in the early hours of Friday
David Mundell retained his Dumfriesshire Clydesdale and Tweeddale constituency with a greatly increased majority attracting a total of 24,177 votes.
And with the party tally north of the border rising to 12 he has lost his familiar tag of being ‘the only Tory MP in Scotland.’
In runner-up position was SNP candidate Mairi McAllan with 14,736 votes followed by Labour’s Douglas Beattie with 8,102. The Liberal Democrats’ John Ferry received 1,949 votes.
In neighbouring Dumfries and Galloway, the SNP’s Richard Arkless, who had held the seat for two years, lost out to Conservative challenger Alister Jack.
Mr Jack, who farms at Courance, near Lockerbie, has had an international business career but has pledged to fully focus on his constituency.
He attracted 22,344 votes compared to Stranraer lawyer and businessman Mr Arkless who had 16,701.
Labour’s Dr Daniel Goodare received 10,775 votes; Liberal Democrat Dr Joan Mitchell, 1,241 and non-aligned candidate Yen Hongmei Jin, 538.
Meanwhile, in the Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire constituency, which stretches from the North Sea to Newcastleton, Conservative John Lamont was first past the post.
He attracted 28,213 votes to finish in front of the SNP’s Calum Craig with 17,153 votes, who won the seat in 2015 with a narrow lead.
Labour’s Ian Davidson received 4,519 votes and Liberal Democrat Caroline Burgess 2,482.
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