Narrow win over Reform among north east SNP victories
BBCThe SNP has held on to its political grip across the north east of Scotland.
Karen Adam saw off a strong challenge from Reform in Banffshire and Buchan Coast with a narrow majority of 364.
And the SNP's Westminster leader Stephen Flynn won himself a seat in the Scottish Parliament by taking the constituency of Aberdeen Deeside and North Kincardine.
The SNP also held Aberdeen Central, Aberdeen Donside and Aberdeenshire East. Meanwhile, the Scottish Conservatives held Aberdeenshire West.
One of the most headline-grabbing results on Friday was in the Northern Isles.
The Scottish Liberal Democrats lost what was the party's traditional stronghold seat of Shetland to the SNP.
The SNP's Hannah Mary Goodlad defeated candidate Emma Macdonald.
Shetland has been represented by the Liberal party and later the Lib Dems since Jo Grimond was elected in 1950.
The Orkney Islands seat was the first to declare and was successfully held by Lib Dem Liam McArthur.
His winning vote share at 72% was the highest in the history of Holyrood.
Analysis: Reform came close to a win
The SNP had told us earlier that the Banffshire and Buchan Coast was on a "knife edge" and they were correct.
In this sharp contest, Reform UK's Conrad Ritchie came within touching distance of ousting Karen Adam, with the SNP scraping through with a majority of 364.
That's an impressive performance from Reform and Ritchie had worked that seat hard by local accounts.
The coastal seat is really the home of Scotland's fishing industry and there's still a rich source of pro-Brexit votes.
Adam attempted to be inclusive in her victory speech and questioned why so many people in her patch had opted to back Reform.
It's a question the traditional parties will continue to ask.
Karen Adam said it was a "very close" result for her in Banffshire and Buchan Coast.
"I am really grateful that I have been elected again as MSP," she told BBC Scotland News after the narrow election victory.
She said people wanted to see change on the ground, amid issues such as high food and energy prices.
"I want to open my door [to constituents], say 'I am here to listen'," she added.
She said the oil and gas and fishing industries were two areas she would focus on.
Aberdeen Donside was a win for the SNP's Jackie Dunbar.
Her 38.6% share - 11,760 votes - was down 13%, defeating Reform's Claudia Leith on 7,029.
In Aberdeen Central, the SNP's Jack Middleton saw off Labour's Jenny Laing with a 44.1% share of the vote.
In Aberdeenshire East, Gillian Martin saw the SNP's share fall 11.3%.
A total of 11,624 votes defeated Conservative Douglas Lumsden with 10,681 votes.
'Huge honour'
However, the Conservatives held Aberdeenshire West.
Alexander Burnett took in 15,897 votes, the 42.9% share seeing off the SNP's Fatima Joji on 10,113 votes.
Burnett described himself as being "exhausted" but "thrilled" after a long campaign.
"To win again is a huge honour," he said.
Funding for local services would be among his priorities, he said.
He added that Reform taking votes had allowed the SNP to win seats elsewhere.
On the North East Scotland regional list, Liam Kerr and Douglas Lumsden won seats for the Scottish Conservative party.
Duncan Massey and Mark Simpson secured seats for Reform UK, while Michael Marra ensured he returned to Holyrood with Scottish Labour.
The Scottish Liberal Democrats and the Scottish Green Party also won one seat each on the regional list - for Yi-Pei Chou Turvey and Maggie Chapman respectively.
