SNP lose Western Isles seat it had held for 19 years
Labour's Donald MacKinnon has won Na h-Eileanan an Iar constituency from the SNP in a close contest in the Western Isles.
The SNP's Alasdair Allan was first elected to the seat in 2007, and held ministerial positions under first ministers Alex Salmond, Nicola Sturgeon and John Swinney.
MacKinnon, who works in community development and manages a community-owned trust in Carloway on Lewis, won by 154 votes.
Political campaigning in the constituency was set against a backdrop of major disruption to the islands' ferry services, and at one point 10 vessels from CalMac's 32-strong west coast ferry fleet were out of action.
There was a turnout of 57% with a total of 12,433 votes cast.
Sir John Curtice compared the result to that in Shetland, traditionally a Lib Dem stronghold, which was won by the SNP's Hannah Mary Goodlad.
The polling expert said: "Labour just made a gain from the SNP in Na h-Eileanan an Iar where, as in the Shetland Isles, politics is local.
"This somewhat unanticipated success has again put the prospect of an SNP majority back a little."
The BBC is forecasting the SNP will end the election as Scotland's largest party, but will fall short of a majority, with between 60 and 63 constituency seats.
Na h-Eileanan an Iar was the first of the Highlands and Islands' seats declared.
The outcome of votes in Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch and Inverness and Nairn, along with results for list MSPs, are expected late afternoon or early evening.
MacKinnon thanked islanders for "putting their trust" in him, and also thanked Allan for his 19 years of service.
He said: "It is the privilege of my life to the islands and communities I love."
Allan's previous spells at Holyrood have seen him serve as minister for Gaelic, he is fluent in the language, and climate change minister.
But in 2023 he rebelled against the Scottish government's Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) after opposition to the zones from island fishing communities.
Allan said he was disappointed with the result but added that it had been an honour to have been the MSP for the Western Isles.
He added: "At the end of the day it was extremely close and that's how it goes in politics, but I am very disappointed."
Allan said he thought there were a number of reasons for the result, including the ongoing issues with the west coast ferry network.
He said it was one of the biggest issues he encountered when speaking to people on doorsteps in the lead up to the election.
