The Scottish Parliament election saw a wave of high-profile defeats, with 22 sitting members losing their seats despite many seasoned figures seeking re-election. Among the most notable casualties was Angus Robertson, a former deputy leader and cabinet secretary of the Scottish National Party, who finished third in Edinburgh Central as the Scottish Greens secured a historic first constituency victory.

In Glasgow Southside, Kaukab Stewart failed to hold Nicola Sturgeon’s former seat, halting her rapid rise within the Scottish National Party. The Scottish Conservatives also suffered losses, including former party leader Jackson Carlaw in Eastwood and health spokesperson Sandesh Gulhane in Glasgow, leaving the party without representation in the city for the first time since devolution.

Scottish Labour’s Monica Lennon, known for spearheading legislation to make period products freely available nationwide, lost her seat in Rutherglen and Cambuslang. Jamie Greene, who defected from the Conservatives to the Liberal Democrats, was unsuccessful in both a constituency and regional bid.

The election also marked the end of the Ewing family’s long presence in the parliament, as Fergus Ewing was defeated standing as an independent. Ash Regan, who left the Scottish National Party and later the Alba Party after opposing gender recognition reforms, also failed to win a seat, capping a turbulent parliamentary term with electoral defeat.