The Scottish National Party (SNP) has recorded its worst result in more than a decade, according to projections.
It is expected to win only between six and 11 of the 57 seats contested, the party’s lowest score since winning six in the 2010 British parliamentary elections.
“We are going through an experience that we have not had for a long time. We are going to be beaten in Scotland, and we are going to be beaten decisively,” said Stephen Flynn, the SNP’s Westminster leader, after retaining his seat.
Labour, meanwhile, is expected to win a large majority in the UK parliament as a whole, and has so far won 15 of 20 seats in Scotland, its most since winning 41 under Gordon Brown, a Scot, in 2010.
The results are seen as a stumbling block to Scotland’s drive for independence, with the SNP saying winning a majority of Scottish seats would give it the impetus to continue negotiations on independence.
The SNP has dominated Scottish seats in the British parliament since 2015. But it has been plagued by turmoil, with two leaders resigning in just over a year and a police investigation into the party’s finances, as well as splits.
For his part, Starmer has ruled out holding a new referendum on independence. Recent polls have shown that Scots support remaining in the United Kingdom by a slim majority.
