SNP campaign director Angus Robertson ousted by Greens in dramatic Holyrood result

Angus Robertson was pushed into third place in Edinburgh Central behind the Greens and Scottish Labour.

He was the SNP’s campaigns director charged with overseeing its election drive, as well as the party’s former Westminster leader.

Lorna Slater secured a majority of 4,582 in a historic result that marked the first time the Greens had won a constituency MSP.

Speaking to journalists, she hailed it as a “significant milestone” for her party.

It is Mr Robertson’s second electoral defeat in less than a decade, after he previously lost his Westminster seat in 2017.

He said he fell victim to a “wave” of support for the Greens across Scotland and the wider UK.

"This isn't an Edinburgh Central phenomenon," he told journalists.

"This has also been happening in Glasgow, as it's been happening in larger cities in England as well."

He said he was "disappointed", but also pointed to the impact of "significant" boundary changes in the constituency.

"We have to recognise that the victory of the Scottish Green Party in Edinburgh Central is historic," Mr Robertson said. "It's the first time that they've ever won a constituency, and I'm sure [Ms Slater] will go on to represent Edinburgh Central well."

Mr Robertson lost the Moray seat in the House of Commons to then Scottish Tory chief Douglas Ross in 2017.

But four years later he was back in elected politics, when he won the Edinburgh Central seat at Holyrood for the SNP.

He served as the constitution, external affairs and culture secretary under Nicola Sturgeon, Humza Yousaf and John Swinney.

Mr Robertson faced criticism in 2024 over a meeting he held with Israeli deputy ambassador Daniela Grudsky.

Asked if this played a roll in his defeat, he said: “I don’t think so. I’m trying to think if it was ever brought on a doorstep up by a single person. I don’t think that was an election issue for people.”

Ms Slater said Palestine was a “significant” factor.

“Many people mentioned Palestine on doorsteps,” she said. “And being able to have a clear line on it, saying what we’d said in parliament, really helped win our support.”