Election Live: Kelso awaits results of Midlothian South, Tweeddale & Lauderdale and Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire seats
Last updated 8th May 2026
Counting is underway at the Borders Event Centre in Kelso to decide who will represent our region in the Scottish Parliament for the next five years.
Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale is set to elect a new MSP after the SNP's Christine Grahame decided not to stand for re-election, while the Conservatives' deputy leader Rachael Hamilton is one of seven candidates contesting the Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire seat, she has held since 2017.
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First thing's first, is this one of the more picturesque locations for a count in Scotland?
It's not the first time the Borders Events Centre in Kelso has been booked for the event.
'No conspiracy'
Concerns have been raised in the Scottish Borders over the use of pencils in polling booths - and whether or not votes could be manipulated.
But, offering reassurance at the count in Kelso today, Returning Officer David Robertson says there's "no conspiracy":
Who's standing?
Just a reminder - Standing for election in the Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire constituency are: James Robert Anderson (Independent); Ray Georgeson (Scottish Liberal Democrats); Rachael Hamilton (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party); Terry Howson (Alliance to Liberate Scotland); Kaymarie Hughes (Scottish Labour Party); Jamie Alexander Langan (Reform UK); John Redpath (Scottish National Party).
Standing for election in the Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale constituency are: Keith Cockburn (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party); Daniel Coleman (Scottish Labour Party); Duncan Angus Melville Dunlop (Scottish Liberal Democrats); Carolyn Grant (Reform UK); Calum Kerr (Scottish National Party).
2021 results
At the last 2021 Scottish Parliament election, the two constituency seats covering the Scottish Borders were:
Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire
Winner: Rachael Hamilton (Scottish Conservatives)
Majority: 6,863 votes over the SNP candidate Paul Wheelhouse.
Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale
Winner: Christine Grahame (SNP)
Majority: 6,826 votes over the Conservative candidate Shona Haslam.
Fast forward to 2026...
Only just over half the electorate in our region turned out to vote yesterday.
Local Conservative MP John Lamont told Greatest Hits Radio: "The turnout here in the Borders seems to be a bit higher compared to elsewhere in Scotland, so positive that the Borders is higher with these early results coming through.
"But I think there's always a job to do to motivate the voters.
"Since the referendum here in Scotland in 2014, there's been high levels of voter engagement; I think that's starting to fall off a little bit.
"But I think the onus is on all of us - all political parties - to get involved in issues that voters are concerned about to encourage more of them to participate in our elections."
Who will win?
It appears to be business as usual in the Borders with Rachael Hamilton expected to retain Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire for the Conservatives, and former SNP MP Calum Kerr taking over from Christine Grahame in Midlothian south Tweeddale and Lauderdale.
We're expecting the result around 4.45pm...
RESULT - Rachael Hamilton wins Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire
Rachael Hamilton of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party has been elected as the MSP for the Ettrick, Roxburgh, and Berwickshire Constituency.
The total number of votes cast was 30,207. The turnout was 53%.
The total number of votes polled for each candidate was as follows:
• James Robert Anderson, Independent – 740
• Ray Georgeson Scottish, Liberal Democrats – 2,358
• Rachael Hamilton Scottish, Conservative and Unionist Party – 13,483
• Terry Howson, Alliance to Liberate Scotland – 165
• Kaymarie Hughes, Scottish Labour Party – 1,577
• Jamie Alexander Langan, Reform UK – 3,569
• John Redpath, Scottish National Party (SNP) – 8,206
The number of ballot papers rejected was 109.
RESULT - Calum Kerr wins Midlothian South, Tweeddale & Lauderdale
Calum Kerr of the Scottish National Party has been elected as the MSP for the Midlothian South, Tweeddale, and Lauderdale Constituency.
The total number of votes cast was 34,658. The turnout was 55.5%.
The total number of votes polled for each candidate was as follows:
Keith Cockburn, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party – 6,930
Daniel Coleman, Scottish Labour Party – 4,614
Duncan Angus Melville Dunlop, Scottish Liberal Democrats 4,649
Carolyn Grant, Reform UK – 4,199
Calum Kerr, Scottish National Party (SNP) – 14,091
The number of ballot papers rejected was 175.
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