Scottish election 2021: Conservative match best Scottish election results
- Published
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross was on his party's list in the Highlands and Islands region
The Scottish Conservatives have matched their best performance in the Scottish election, winning 31 seats.
The party picked up two seats on the regional lists, offsetting the loss of two constituencies.
Scottish Conservatives leader Douglas Ross took over the party in August last year.
He said he would continue to fight SNP plans for an independence referendum in the new parliamentary term.
The Conservatives finished on the same total as 2016, winning a total of 31 seats.
The SNP's former Westminster leader Angus Robertson took Edinburgh Central, beating Scott Douglas, who was seeking to hold Ruth Davidson's former seat.
John Scott lost his Ayr constituency to the SNP's Siobhian Brown.
Mr Ross will re-enter Holyrood on the Highlands and Islands regional list as his party upped its number of MSPs in the area.
He had previously been elected an MSP in 2016 before resigning his seat after winning Moray in the 2017 Westminster election.
Mr Ross said he was not going to hide from the "crucial debate" on independence.
"But what I am going to put forward is a positive vision for our country, what we really can deliver as a whole parliament, as a whole country to secure the recovery that people here in Scotland desperately need after the 12 months we have been through together," he said.
A modern browser with JavaScript and a stable internet connection is required to view this interactive. More information about these elections
Mr Ross refused to be drawn on whether he would support legal action against a second independence referendum after Nicola Sturgeon pledged to "proceed with the legislation that is necessary".
If Boris Johnson tried to stop it, she added, he would need to go to the Supreme Court.
Mr Ross said he would be supporting "protecting people's jobs, investing in the NHS, raising our education standards" among other things which can currently be pursued in the Scottish Parliament.
He also reiterated he would continue to serve as an MP alongside his new position in Holyrood.
Mr Ross said: "We have had six weeks of extremely competitive and at times divisive debate, but I believe now people are looking for their MSPs, both in this region and across Scotland, to work together - to show the same unity that people across this country have shown in coming through the worst of this pandemic so far and looking towards our recovery as a country."
In his victory speech, Mr Ross said: "This region is so important to me, I've lived within the Highlands and Islands in Moray, my entire life.
"I've had the great pleasure and privilege to represent this area before and I am delighted to be returned again to represent this diverse and wonderful part of Scotland."
