WATCH: 'What a phenomenal result!'
Newly-elected MSPs celebrate Scottish Parliament election wins...
Last updated 9th May 2026
It appears to be business as usual in the Scottish Borders following this week's election results.
Former SNP MP Calum Kerr takes over from retiring party colleague Christine Grahame after polling an increased majority in Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale.
Meanwhile, in Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, the Conservatives deputy leader Rachael Hamilton retains the seat she's held since 2017.
Speaking to Greatest Hits Radio following his victory, Mr Kerr said: "I feel very excited - what a phenomenal result!"
Ms Grahame represented the Borders and Midlothian in the Scottish Parliament for 27 years, before stepping down last month - at the age of 81.
Paying tribute, Mr Kerr revealed he's aiming to follow in her footsteps.
"Now, I'm clearly not going to quite match Christine Grahame in some regards," he told the count at the Borders Event Centre in Kelso.
"I can't promise to always have the seat behind the First Minister. I've been asked if I'll wear a nice brooch every week, I can't promise to do that - so apologies to those that enjoyed that.
"But Christine was a formidable champion for everyone in the constituency, there was nobody she wouldn't pick up the fight for. There was no organisation she wouldn't stand up to. And I promise to honour that service for our community.
"I will continue to be the local champion for everyone in this constituency. And beyond that, I will take their priorities to the national stage."
WATCH: Click on the link below to view our video report...
The SNP are once again the largest party at Holyrood – after securing a record fifth consecutive Scottish Parliament election victory.
Among the 73 constituency seats, the nationalists won 57, the Scottish Lib Dems won seven, the Scottish Conservatives won four, Scottish Labour won three and the Greens won two.
Meanwhile, Scotland has elected its first two transgender MSPs to the Holyrood parliament. Dr Q Manivannan and Iris Duane both secured regional list seats for the Scottish Green Party.
The MSPs elected to the South Scotland region are as follows: Reform UK - Senga Beresford, Jamie Langan, David Kirkwood. Scottish Labour - Carol Ann Mochan, Joe Fagan. Scottish Greens - Laura Moodie. Scottish Liberal Democrats - Duncan Dunlop
Ms Hamilton said: "I think we predicted there would be a general reduced vote share for all parties. One of my concerns has been that Reform could have split the vote across Scotland."
But she added: "I'm just delighted that the South of Scotland has held on to that blue wall. I'm so delighted for my colleagues Finlay Carson and Craig Hoy, and we now know that that blue wall is solid and, between the three of us, we'll make sure we represent the South of Scotland in a way that is strong for the rural communities."
While her majority was slightly reduced, Rachael Hamilton recorded more than 5,000 more votes than her nearest rival - the SNP's John Redpath; while Calum Kerr polled 7000 more votes than Conservative candidate Keith Cockburn.
Only just over half the electorate in our region turned out to vote yesterday.
Local Conservative MP John Lamont told us: "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."
You can see more from the count at Kelso here.
For more stories from the Scottish Borders and North Northumberland, bookmark our home page - https://hellorayo.co.uk/greatest-hits/borders/news/