Latest headlines
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Victory for the SNP with 63 seats - two short of a majority
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Conservatives are the second largest party on 31 seats - but Labour on 24 lost 13 seats
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Scottish Greens are the fourth largest party with six seats, ahead of the Lib Dems who won five
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See the changing political map of Scotland
Scoreboard
| Party | Candidates | Votes | % | Net percentage change in seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Party
LD Scottish Lib Dems |
Candidates Tavish Scott | Votes 7,440 | 67.4% | Net percentage change in seats +19.9 |
|
Party
SNP Scottish National Party |
Candidates Danus Skene | Votes 2,545 | 23.1% | Net percentage change in seats +11.0 |
|
Party
LAB Scottish Labour |
Candidates Robina Barton | Votes 651 | 5.9% | Net percentage change in seats −0.7 |
|
Party
CON Scottish Conservatives |
Candidates Cameron Smith | Votes 405 | 3.7% | Net percentage change in seats +0.2 |
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Change compared with 2011 |
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Turnout and Majority
Scottish Lib Dems Majority
4,895Turnout
62.1%Constituency Profile
This is the most northerly seat in the UK. The Shetland Islands are nearer to Norway than England, and their Viking heritage is celebrated in the annual Up Helly Aa fire festival in January.
The main town of Lerwick is a centre for the oil industry and further to the north lies Sullom Voe oil terminal. Traditional industries also feature including fishing and knitwear. Salmon farming is also an important source of employment.
The Liberal Democrats and their forebears have held the Westminster seat of Orkney and Shetland since 1950. The single seat that covered both groups of islands was divided in two at the creation of the Scottish Parliament. Tavish Scott, one time leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, has been MSP for the constituency since the parliament's inception in 1999, and retained his seat in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 elections.