Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson said she “will be making further remarks later today” after she lost her East Dunbartonshire seat to the SNP.
Speaking from the count, she said: “Some will be celebrating the wave of nationalism that is sweeping on both sides of the border.
“And I do congratulate all those who are newly elected.
“These are very significant results for the future of our country and I will be making further remarks later today.”
There were just 149 votes between Ms Swinson and the newly elected MP, Amy Callaghan.
SNP Gain East Dunbartonshire from Lib Dems #GE2019
SNP: 37.1% (+6.8)
LDEM: 36.8% (-3.8)
CON: 14.1% (-0.5)
LAB: 9.1% (-5.4)
GRN: 1.7% (+1.7)— The Sunday Post (@Sunday_Post) December 13, 2019
Ms Swinson, 39, became her party’s first female leader in a landslide victory over Sir Ed Davey earlier this year, after the lacklustre leaderships of Tim Farron and Sir Vince Cable.
She had served as a minister in the coalition Government and was among the party’s MPs who paid the price for the tie-up with David Cameron’s Tories in the 2015 election bloodbath – which saw the Lib Dems reduced to a rump of just eight in the Commons.
Ms Swinson fought back when prime minister Theresa May called another election in 2017, regaining her Scottish seat from the SNP.
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