Analysis: SNP Regain Some of 2017's Losses, Whilst Tories Cling on in the North-East

Before delving into swings and margins, after a very long night which was the preface to a new era of politics in the UK, perhaps stepping back and looking at the political map is the simplest way to make sense of the results. As of today, this is what the North-East looks like on that map.

North-East Parliamentary Constituencies following the 2019 General Election

As you can see, the Conservatives did not experience the scale of defeat the exit poll forecasted, holding onto Aberdeenshire West and Kincardine, Banff and Buchan and Moray, where SNP's Laura Mitchell was within 513 votes of Douglas Ross. The SNP's Depute Leader at Westminster, Kirsty Blackman, comfortably held Aberdeen North whilst Stephen Flynn of the SNP defeated Conservative candidate and Aberdeen City Council Co-Leader Douglas Lumsden by almost UK 3,990 votes. The SNP took back Gordon, the former constituency of Alex Salmond, electing Richard Thompson.

North-East Parliamentary Constituencies following the 2017 General Election

Comparing the new map with 2017's results, it's clear that support for SNP for Aberdeen City and the surrounding area has significantly increased since the last election. It was widely expected that Kirsty Blackman would hold onto the seat she's held since 2015, however Aberdeen South appeared to be the one people were watching last night. Some believe allegations against the constituencies' previous representative Ross Thompson had significant damage to the party's chances of holding the seat. But with such a comfortable victory in a seat expected to be close implies Tory voters in Aberdeen South had lost faith in the mandate they gave two and half years ago. Last night's big seat loss was for Liberal Democrats leader Jo Swinson. At the North-East count, a big crowd was gathered round a television at this moment, a group of Liberal Democrat candidates at the front, mostly speechless at the Dunbartonshire East result. Reacting, the Lib Dem candidate for Aberdeen South Ian Yuill said: "I think it's undeserved, she's been a good constituency MP and although just for a few months was a very promising new leader of the Liberal Democrats". He was, however pleased to have almost doubled his vote share since 2017. Listen to the full interview with Cllr Yuill below.

Back in 2017, a similar significant seat loss saw ex-First Minster Alex Salmond lose Gordon, where he was elected in 2015 on the back of the independence movement. Last night, the party took back that seat, electing Richard Thompson by 819 votes.

Gillian Martin, SNP's MSP for Aberdeenshire East, spoke with us shortly after the exit poll was released saying the forecast, which proved accurate, was a "silver lining on an otherwise very dark cloud". Listen to the full interview below.

And the big moment at the North-East count was Stephen Flynn's Aberdeen South victory. Holding back a big grin and leaning on a crutch, he tells the crowd he's expecting a baby over the next few days; with parliament due to sit for the first time next Tuesday, Flynn is set for a busy week. As he makes his speech, he promises voters that he will follow through on fighting the two main issues voters raised on doorsteps, Brexit and austerity in Aberdeen South.