SNP's Christine Grahame holds onto Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale

Christine Grahame of the SNP has held onto her Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale seat for another five years after returning an increased majority of 6,826.
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Ms Grahame, who served as Deputy Presiding Officer in the last term of the Scottish Parliament, said she was delighted to be asked to once again serve “the best constituency in Scotland”.

She said: “I’m absolutely thrilled … an increased majority, even when a Green Party candidate was standing, is fantastic.”

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She was just as chuffed with how results are shaping up elsewhere in Scotland.

Christine Grahame of the SNP held onto her Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale seat by an increased majority.Christine Grahame of the SNP held onto her Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale seat by an increased majority.
Christine Grahame of the SNP held onto her Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale seat by an increased majority.

She said: “It’s superb to have, for the fourth time, a government of Scotland with a majority of MSPs coming into that parliament who want to have the right to have a referendum, in a democratic vote on proportional representation.

"I say to Boris Johnson, if that’s not the way to do it, show the other way to do it, or is it always going to be a no to democracy in Scotland.

"I love this constituency from one corner to the other. I know it inside out, and it’s a privilege to be returned. I’ll never, ever take it for granted, and as I’ve said, I’ll represent everybody in this constituency, whether they have voted for me or not.”

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Shona Haslam, the leader of Scottish Borders Council, came second for the Scottish Conservatives with 12,981 votes, so returns to her day job on Monday.

Labour's Katherine Sangster and Conservative Shona Haslam share a chat at the count.Labour's Katherine Sangster and Conservative Shona Haslam share a chat at the count.
Labour's Katherine Sangster and Conservative Shona Haslam share a chat at the count.

She said: “We have increased our vote share, and I’m really pleased with that result, and we’ll be back next time.

"The turnout was much bigger than it was the last time, which is really good to see, I love to see people taking part in these elections.

"The south of Scotland is true blue, and we’ve held up that vote really well.

"We’ll have to see what happens on the list.”

Counting in process at KelsoCounting in process at Kelso
Counting in process at Kelso

The turnout for the constituency was 66%.

Results

Christine Grahame Scottish National Party – 19,807

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Shona Haslam, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party – 12,981

Katherine Sangster, Scottish Labour and Scottish Co-operative Party – 5,410

A. C. May, Scottish Liberal Democrats – 2,615

Dominic Ashmole, Scottish Greens – 2,154

Michael Banks, Vanguard Party – 67