Labour Wins Na h-Eileanan an Iar Constituency
Labour candidate Donald MacKinnon has secured the Na h-Eileanan an Iar seat from the Scottish National Party (SNP) in a tightly contested election in the Western Isles.
The SNP's Alasdair Allan had represented the constituency since 2007 and held various ministerial roles under First Ministers Alex Salmond, Nicola Sturgeon, and John Swinney.
MacKinnon, who is engaged in community development and manages a community-owned trust in Carloway on Lewis, won the seat by a margin of 154 votes.
Election Context and Turnout
The political campaign in the constituency occurred amid significant disruptions to the islands' ferry services. At one point, 10 vessels from CalMac's 32-strong west coast ferry fleet were out of service, impacting local transportation.
The voter turnout was 57%, with a total of 12,433 votes cast.
Expert Analysis and Election Forecast
Polling expert Sir John Curtice compared this result to the Shetland Isles, traditionally a Liberal Democrat stronghold, which was won by the SNP's Hannah Mary Goodlad.
"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 forecasts that the SNP will remain Scotland's largest party but will fall short of a majority, expected to win between 60 and 63 constituency seats.
Election Results and Upcoming Declarations
Na h-Eileanan an Iar was the first seat declared in the Highlands and Islands region.
Results from other constituencies, including Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, and Inverness and Nairn, along with list MSP results, are anticipated later in the afternoon or early evening.
Reactions from Candidates
Donald MacKinnon expressed gratitude to the islanders for their support and acknowledged Alasdair Allan's long service.
"It is the privilege of my life to the islands and communities I love."
Alasdair Allan's tenure at Holyrood included roles as Minister for Gaelic, a language he speaks fluently, and Climate Change Minister.
In 2023, Allan opposed the Scottish government's Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) policy following objections from island fishing communities.
