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European Elections 2019: SNP to have three MEPs as Labour collapses European Elections 2019: SNP to have three MEPs as Labour collapses
(32 minutes later)
The Scottish results are being announced for the EU elections, with the SNP securing strong results and the Labour vote collapsing. The SNP is on course to increase its number of MEPs from two to three in the European elections amid a collapse in support for Scottish Labour.
After the first 29 councils areas declared their results, the SNP had won 37.9% of the votes - up from the 29% it won in 2014. With 30 of the 32 Scottish council areas having declared their results, the SNP has 37.9% of the votes - up from 29% in the last EU election.
The Brexit Party is second on 14.5%, with the Liberal Democrats on 14% and the Conservatives on 11.5%. The Brexit Party is second on 14.6%, with the Liberal Democrats on 14% and the Conservatives on 11.5%.
Scottish Labour was on 9.6% - down from 26% in 2014 - and the Greens 8.3%. Scottish Labour is on 9.4% - down from 26% in 2014 - and the Greens 8.3%.
Polling expert Prof Sir John Curtice has predicted that the SNP will finish with three of the six MEPs in Scotland - one more than in the last European election in 2014. Polling expert Prof Sir John Curtice has predicted that the SNP will finish with three of the six MEPs in Scotland - one more than the party won in 2014.
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, the country's first minister, tweeted that her party had won a "historic" victory in the election, and that Scotland had "rejected Brexit again".
The Brexit Party, Liberal Democrats and Conservatives will have one MEP each, with Scottish Labour losing both of its seats in the European Parliament.The Brexit Party, Liberal Democrats and Conservatives will have one MEP each, with Scottish Labour losing both of its seats in the European Parliament.
The results from 31 of Scotland's 32 council areas will be announced tonight, with the Western Isles not declaring its results until later on Monday. The results from 31 of Scotland's 32 council areas are being announced tonight, with the Western Isles not declaring its results until later on Monday - although it will not affect the overall result.
The election was held on Thursday in the UK, but the results could not be announced until after 22:00 on Sunday.The election was held on Thursday in the UK, but the results could not be announced until after 22:00 on Sunday.
What are the key trends? What has happened so far?
The SNP's Alyn Smith, who tops their list for the election, said it was clear from the results that Scotland was a "different country" to the rest of the UK - where the Brexit Party is on course to win the most votes. The SNP fought its election campaign on a strong anti-Brexit platform, with party leader Nicola Sturgeon urging voters to back her party to show "Scotland's for Europe".
The Liberal Democrats, whose vote is up across the UK, and the Scottish Greens also campaigned against Brexit and have joined the SNP in calling for another referendum on EU membership.
The SNP's Alyn Smith, who tops the party's list for the election, said it was clear from the results that Scotland was a "different country" to the rest of the UK - where the Brexit Party is on course to win the most votes.
Mr Smith told BBC Scotland: "It is clear that Scotland is for Europe, we have voted Remain again, and that vote cannot be ignored.Mr Smith told BBC Scotland: "It is clear that Scotland is for Europe, we have voted Remain again, and that vote cannot be ignored.
"People are voting SNP for a variety of reasons - there are those who are lending us their vote and others who are diehard SNP voters, we've got people coming to us from all over the spectrum."People are voting SNP for a variety of reasons - there are those who are lending us their vote and others who are diehard SNP voters, we've got people coming to us from all over the spectrum.
"This has been about proving to the UK that we want to remain (in the EU)"."This has been about proving to the UK that we want to remain (in the EU)".
Scottish Labour candidate David Martin, who had been an MEP since 1984 but will now lose his seat, said his party's woes in the election were because "we didn't have a clear position" on Brexit.
He added: "Our message clearly should have been that Labour is a remain party."
The SNP and Labour both won two seats in Scotland in 2014, with the Conservatives and UKIP winning one each.The SNP and Labour both won two seats in Scotland in 2014, with the Conservatives and UKIP winning one each.
Who's had a good night and who's had a bad one?
Analysis by BBC Scotland political reporter Philip Sim
To take the easy questions first, it has been a good night for the SNP, who have gained a seat while cruising ahead of all of its rivals. There were council areas where the party was comfortably 30 percentage points clear of their nearest rivals.
It was also a decent night for the Brexit Party, who improved on UKIP's previous performance in Scotland and look set to take a seat. See also the Lib Dems, who say they "are finding votes from places we have never been before".
But for every winner in politics, there's a loser. Other than the SNP's dominance, the big story of the night was Labour's utter collapse, losing both of their seats.
The official line from Labour is that they're being punished by a "polarised" political climate. Others in the party are more direct - calling it an "absolute catastrophe" and "unforgivable".
Does this tell us anything about future elections, or the fate of Brexit? That's a much harder question.
Yes, unambiguously pro-EU parties did well - although of course they were always expected to, in a country that voted 68% for Remain in 2016. The SNP in particular are keen to proclaim that the results shows that "Scotland's not for Brexit".
The strong performances from the Brexit Party and the Lib Dems also underline the importance of having a clear constitutional position in an election that was all about sending a message.
But while turnout was up on previous European elections, it was still low by comparison with almost every other vote held in Scotland over the last 20 years. Less than half of the electorate registered a vote.
These results might not be replicated in any future Westminster or Holyrood election. But they will certainly shape the context of the debate in the coming months, at a pivotal time in politics.
What's happening elsewhere?What's happening elsewhere?
Voting took place across the UK against the backdrop of Brexit, with both the Conservatives and Labour having had a disappointing night so far and the Brexit Party and the pro-EU Lib Dems seeing surges as voters split along Leave and Remain lines. Voting took place across the UK against the backdrop of Brexit, with both the Conservatives and Labour suffering big losses across the UK and the former heading for less than 10% of the vote.
Polling expert John Curtice predicted that the Brexit Party would win the most votes across the UK, and the Liberal Democrats second. The Brexit Party is on course to win the most votes across the UK, with the pro-EU Lib Dems coming second.
Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage said the two main parties "could learn a big message" from the results.
All 28 EU member states are electing MEPs, and countries have been voting since Thursday.All 28 EU member states are electing MEPs, and countries have been voting since Thursday.
Voters across the UK will choose a total of 73 MEPs in 12 multi-member regional constituencies, with Scotland classed as a single constituency that will elect six MEPs.Voters across the UK will choose a total of 73 MEPs in 12 multi-member regional constituencies, with Scotland classed as a single constituency that will elect six MEPs.
MEPs are elected in order as listed by their party, based on the parties' total share of the vote in each region.MEPs are elected in order as listed by their party, based on the parties' total share of the vote in each region.