Carmichael holds on to seat despite SNP surge

Alistair Carmichael has been returned as Northern Isles MP and the only Lib Dem left in Scotland narrowly defeating the SNP’s Danus Skene.

The declaration just before 4am indicated 9,407 votes for Mr Carmichael, 8,590 for Danus Skene, 2,025 for Conservative Donald Cameron, 1,625 for Gerry McGarvey (Labour) and 1,082 for Robert Smith (UKIP).

Mr Carmichael said that it had been “quite a remarkable election campaign”. He congratulated the SNP on quite a remarkable political achievement. “We truly live in  remarkable political times in Scotland.

He said it was a tremendous privilege to retain the seat and thanked the voters of Orkney and Shetland.

Shetland MSP Tavish Scott said he was relieved and delighted that Mr Carmichael had retained his seat and held off “the Tsunami” of SNP support that had been shown on Mainland Scotland.

Mr Skene said: “We have achieved a lot. This will genuinely change Northern Isles politics, it will make people think much more than they’ve had to.”