McGarvey believes there will have been tactical voting

Labour candidate Gerry McGarvey.

Labour candidate Gerry McGarvey says he finds it difficult to take exit polls at face value though believes tactical voting will have occurred.

“They have a habit of being near but they were horribly wrong back in 1992,” he said shortly after arriving at the count.

There had been changes in the political landscape, he said and all parties needed to reflect that. It was not about numbers in constituencies, but communities.

“Generally I’ve had a great campaign, I did exactly what I was expected to do which was to contribute to a campaign and put the Labour message out there.”

All the way through the campaign, Mr McGarvey said he has argued his party’s manifesto “has been the most radical manifesto since 1945” with a message of redistribution of wealth.

Tactical voting will have happened he said either “to keep the SNP out or give Alistair a good kicking.”