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Ukip extends electoral triumph, winning its first seat in Scotland Ukip extends electoral triumph, winning its first seat in Scotland
(about 2 hours later)
Ukip narrowly won its first ever seat in Scotland, dashing Alex Salmond's hopes of securing a record three seats in the European parliament.Ukip narrowly won its first ever seat in Scotland, dashing Alex Salmond's hopes of securing a record three seats in the European parliament.
The party's candidate David Coburn, a Scottish businessmen who was parachuted in by Farage after running Ukip's London region, won the sixth European seat by the narrowest of margins after securing 10.4% of the vote.The party's candidate David Coburn, a Scottish businessmen who was parachuted in by Farage after running Ukip's London region, won the sixth European seat by the narrowest of margins after securing 10.4% of the vote.
After 31 of Scotland's 32 councils had declared – the Western Isles is due to count its votes on Monday - the SNP still secured the largest share of the vote.After 31 of Scotland's 32 councils had declared – the Western Isles is due to count its votes on Monday - the SNP still secured the largest share of the vote.
But it failed to record the upsurge in popular support it wanted before September's independence referendum.But it failed to record the upsurge in popular support it wanted before September's independence referendum.
Despite seeing its support as high as 37% in recent opinion polls, the SNP's share of the vote fell slightly to 28.9% compared to the European parliament result in 2009, with the party winning 386,193 votes.Despite seeing its support as high as 37% in recent opinion polls, the SNP's share of the vote fell slightly to 28.9% compared to the European parliament result in 2009, with the party winning 386,193 votes.
Scottish Labour had a good night after its share of the vote increasing by more than five points compared to 2009 with 25.9%, or 346,377 votes. The Conservative share of the vote rose slightly from 16.8% in 2009 to 17.2%. Scottish Labour had a good night after its share of the vote increased by more than five points compared to 2009 with 25.9%, or 346,377 votes. The Conservative share of the vote rose slightly from 16.8% in 2009 to 17.2%.
But it was a humiliating night for their coalition partners Liberal Democrats, who won just 7.1% of the results. They lost their sole Scottish MEP, George Lyons, after the result pushed them into sixth place in Scotland behind the Scottish Green party, which recorded its highest ever European result.But it was a humiliating night for their coalition partners Liberal Democrats, who won just 7.1% of the results. They lost their sole Scottish MEP, George Lyons, after the result pushed them into sixth place in Scotland behind the Scottish Green party, which recorded its highest ever European result.
With the total turnout in Scotland at 33.5% – a five point increase on the turnout in 2009, Ukip's victory came with just 3% of Scotland's total electorate.With the total turnout in Scotland at 33.5% – a five point increase on the turnout in 2009, Ukip's victory came with just 3% of Scotland's total electorate.
Salmond had repeated targeted Ukip in the days leading up to Thursday's vote, warning Scottish voters that Farage's party were a threat to tolerance, multiculturalism and its progressive, centre-left politics. Salmond had targeted Ukip in the days leading up to Thursday's vote, warning Scottish voters that Farage's party was a threat to tolerance, multiculturalism and its progressive, centre-left politics.
Bouyed by recent opinion polls, he had hoped that SNP would be able to send the third candidate on its list, Tasmina Ahmed Sheikh, to the European parliament. Buoyed by recent opinion polls, he had hoped that the SNP would be able to send the third candidate on its list, Tasmina Ahmed Sheikh, to the European parliament.
He and the pro-independence movement had insisted that Ukip's apparent failure to replicate its rise in England north of the border was evidence that Scotland and England were now increasingly drifting apart, and had different values. He and the pro-independence movement had insisted that Ukip's apparent failure to replicate its successes north of the border was evidence that Scotland and England were now increasingly drifting apart, and had different values.
Salmond insisted that Scotland and England were still very different countries, despite Ukip's result, since Farage's party was recording more than 30% in many areas. He said he still wanted to "freeze" Ukip out of Scottish politics, and blamed the BBC for boosting its chances by beaming Ukip into Scottish livingrooms. Salmond insisted that Scotland and England were still very different countries, despite Ukip's result, since Farage's party was recording more than 30% in many areas. He said he still wanted to "freeze" Ukip out of Scottish politics, and blamed the BBC for boosting its chances by beaming Ukip into Scottish living rooms.
"There's a world of difference between Ukip coming top of the polls in England and coming fourth in Scotland and a world of difference with a party of government [the SNP] winning another election. We hope we're going to freeze Ukip out of Scotland, and perhaps getting under 10% of the vote in Scotland," he said."There's a world of difference between Ukip coming top of the polls in England and coming fourth in Scotland and a world of difference with a party of government [the SNP] winning another election. We hope we're going to freeze Ukip out of Scotland, and perhaps getting under 10% of the vote in Scotland," he said.
Coburn said Ukip had won votes from "ordinary working men and working women fed up with being treated like electoral cattle" by the Labour party.Coburn said Ukip had won votes from "ordinary working men and working women fed up with being treated like electoral cattle" by the Labour party.
Adding that he would now campaign vigorously for the UK in the referendum, Coburn said he believed his victory would cause "a serious problem for the Scottish independence campaign." He said: "We're going to stand up to Salmond and his nasty little dictatorship."Adding that he would now campaign vigorously for the UK in the referendum, Coburn said he believed his victory would cause "a serious problem for the Scottish independence campaign." He said: "We're going to stand up to Salmond and his nasty little dictatorship."
Margaret Curran, Labour's shadow Scottish secretary, said she was pleased with Labour's result particularly after the party's humiliating result in the 2011 Scottish parliament elections. "It has been a disappointing result, I think for the SNP. They had predicted they would do much better than this. In fact their vote has gone down slightly and that's a significant blow for them," she said.Margaret Curran, Labour's shadow Scottish secretary, said she was pleased with Labour's result particularly after the party's humiliating result in the 2011 Scottish parliament elections. "It has been a disappointing result, I think for the SNP. They had predicted they would do much better than this. In fact their vote has gone down slightly and that's a significant blow for them," she said.
Willie Rennie, the Scottish Lib Dem leader, admitted that losing their seat was "not a big surprise" because of the unpopularity of the party's coalition at Westminster.Willie Rennie, the Scottish Lib Dem leader, admitted that losing their seat was "not a big surprise" because of the unpopularity of the party's coalition at Westminster.
He added: "IWe continue to pay the price for being in coalition and for the decisions we have taken in government. I get that. In this election we put forward a positive case which was unashamedly pro European. Despite our defeat I am proud of that." He added: "We continue to pay the price for being in coalition and for the decisions we have taken in government. I get that. In this election we put forward a positive case which was unashamedly pro European. Despite our defeat I am proud of that."