Latest headlines
- Victory for the SNP with 63 seats - two short of a majority
- Conservatives are the second largest party on 31 seats - but Labour on 24 lost 13 seats
- Scottish Greens are the fourth largest party with six seats, ahead of the Lib Dems who won five
- See the changing political map of Scotland
Scoreboard
| Party | Candidates | Votes | % | Net percentage change in seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party SNP Scottish National Party | CandidatesAlasdair Allan | Votes6,874 | 52.1% | Net percentage change in seats−13.2 |
| Party LAB Scottish Labour | CandidatesRhoda Grant | Votes3,378 | 25.6% | Net percentage change in seats−3.0 |
| Party CON Scottish Conservatives | CandidatesRanald Fraser | Votes1,499 | 11.4% | Net percentage change in seats+7.0 |
| Party SCHP Scottish Christian Party | CandidatesJohn Cormack | Votes1,162 | 8.8% | Net percentage change in seats+8.8 |
| Party LD Scottish Lib Dems | CandidatesKen MacLeod | Votes293 | 2.2% | Net percentage change in seats+0.5 |
Change compared with 2011 | ||||
Turnout and Majority
Scottish National Party Majority
3,496Turnout
60.9%Constituency Profile
The Western Isles are also known as the Outer Hebrides, and stretch from the Butt of Lewis in the north to Vatersay in the south, a distance of 130 miles. Lewis is the largest island, but others include Harris, the two Uists (North and South) and Benbecula, from where Bonnie Prince Charlie sailed "over the sea to Skye".
Crofting, fishing, tourism and cottage industries are the basis of the local economy, along with the manufacture of Harris Tweed, the islands' most famous export. The Isles are remote from the mainland in culture as well as distance, with a high proportion of Gaelic speakers, and a strong tradition of observing the Sabbath. The area's council delivers services to about 26,000 people and employs more than 2,000 staff.
Alasdair Morrison won the seat for Labour at the 1999 Scottish Parliament elections. Labour held on in 2003, but the SNP's Alasdair Allan won in 2007 and again in 2011.
