SNP CELEBRATE HISTORIC ELECTION VICTORY.

SNP CELEBRATE HISTORIC ELECTION VICTORY.


PARTY WOULD WIN AT LEAST 27 WESTMINSTER SEATS ON EURO RESULT

The results of the European elections would mean that the SNP would win at least 27 seats at the next Westminster elections, according to an analysis using the Electoral Calculus model, and reinforcing the SNP’s position as the leading party in Scotland.

A national extrapolation of today’s historic result would result in the following number of MPs in Scotland:

SNP - 27
Lab - 15
Tory - 7
LD - 9

In reality, the SNP could do even better. For example, the national extrapolation gives Stirling to the Tories – whereas the SNP won the Stirling Council area in the European elections.

Other highlights from the European elections result in Scotland are:

* The first time the SNP has ever won a UK-wide election in Scotland.

* This is the best result for any party in Scotland in a Euro election since PR was introduced - the previous high point was Labour at just over 28% in 1999.

* Labour’s share of the vote in Scotland is their worst since the 1910 General Election.

* The SNP vote in Scotland is higher than the Official Opposition Tory vote across the UK - 29.1% for the SNP compared to 28.6% for the UK Tories.

The SNP also…

* …won 22 of Scotland’s 32 local authorities – a historic first

* …won in East Lothian – where the seat of Iain Gray - Scottish Parliamentary Labour leader – is located

* …topped the poll in Edinburgh South West - seat of the Chancellor Alistair Darling

* …beat Labour into third place in East Renfrewshire by coming second – the seat of Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy

* …was just 2.8% behind Labour in Glasgow – one of only two councils controlled by a majority Labour administration

Commenting on the analysis and the overall result, SNP leader and First Minister Alex Salmond said:

“The Westminster analysis shows how historic this result is for the SNP. Not only are we up 10 points from the last European election, but for the first time ever we have won a UK-wide election in Scotland. We have also won with a much greater margin of victory than even the Holyrood win two years ago.

“A projection of winning at least 27 Westminster seats is an excellent springboard for the SNP in the run-up to the General Election – which should come sooner rather than later. The key to delivering a strong Scottish voice at Westminster – as in the European Parliament – is a strong SNP vote, and a block of 20 MPs.

“Labour MPs must now be quaking in their boots at the prospect of the SNP winning across their former heartlands.”

The SNP's Euro Campaign Manager Joe FitzPatrick said:

"This result was a massive vote of confidence in the SNP Government, and a rejection of Labour. It shows more people than ever before believe the SNP is on their side, and that voting SNP works.

"We are witnessing a tale of two governments - the SNP under Alex Salmond is demonstrating competence, credibility and success, while Gordon Brown's government dithers its way from crisis to crisis as the Labour Party's vote disintegrates.

“The people of Scotland like what they get from the SNP Government – investment in jobs and services, and action to fight recession, and want more powers for the Scottish Parliament so that we can do even more.

“This is Labour’s lowest share of the vote in Scotland since BEFORE World War 1 and the emergence of the modern Labour Party. And it is an extremely poor result for both the Tories and the Lib Dems, who along with Labour have gone into reverse from the last European election.

“The SNP have won all over Scotland – north, south, east and west - including in Alistair Darling’s seat, in Iain Gray’s seat, and we beat Labour into third place in Jim Murphy’s seat. Of the 32 local authority areas, the SNP have won 22 - an astonishing achievement.”