Highlands and Islands Region Results 2026

This page details the results for the Highlands and Islands region, and the constituencies it contains, in the 2026 Scottish Parliament Election.

Constituencies:
Argyll and Bute
Caithness, Sutherland and Ross
Inverness and Nairn
Moray
Na h-Eileanan an Iar
Orkney Islands
Shetland Islands
Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch
Other Key Information:
List Seat Allocation Process
2026 List Candidates
Region History
Minor Party Results Summary

Highlands and Islands Region Overview

Region Map
Highlands and Islands Summary Chart
Highlands and Islands Constituency Seat Winners 2026

Argyll and Bute: 🟡SNP: Jenni Minto
Caithness, Sutherland and Ross: 🟠Lib Dem: David Green
Inverness and Nairn: 🟡SNP: Emma Roddick
Moray: 🟡SNP: Laura Mitchell
Na h-Eileanan an Iar: 🔴Labour: Donald MacKinnon
Orkney Islands: 🟠Lib Dem: Liam McArthur
Shetland Islands: 🟡SNP: Hannah Mary Goodlad
Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch: 🟠Lib Dem: Andrew Baxter

Highlands and Islands Regional List Seat Winners 2026

1: ➡️Reform UK: Vic Currie
2: 🟢Green: Ariane Burgess
3: 🔵Conservative: Tim Eagle
4: ➡️Reform UK: Max Bannerman
5: 🟠Lib Dem: Morven May McCallum
6: 🟢Green: Kristopher Leask
7: 🟡SNP: Maree Todd

Highlands and Islands Constituency Vote 2026
Highlands and Islands Constituency Vote Change vs 2021
Highlands and Islands Regional List Vote 2026
Highlands and Islands Regional List Vote Change vs 2021

Note: Swing figures and 2021 winners are based on Ballot Box Scotland’s own calculations for the notional results of that election on the new boundaries. These may differ slightly from the notional results used by other sources. You can find the full BBS Notionals here.

Argyll and Bute

Constituency Map
Argyll and Bute Key Information

Constituency Winner: 🟡SNP over 🟠Lib Dem
Winner versus 2021: 🟡SNP HOLD
Majority: 2551 (9.3%)
Spoilt Votes (Constituency): 117
List Vote Leader: 🟡SNP over 🟠Lib Dem
Lead: 2031 (7.4%)
Spoilt Votes (Region): 65
Electorate: 49796
Turnout: 55.6%

Argyll and Bute Candidates 2026

🟡SNP: Jenni Minto (*C)
🔵Conservative: Peter Wallace, L6
🔴Labour: Callum George, L6
🟠Lib Dem: Alan Reid, L2
➡️Reform UK: Amanda Hampsey, L3
⚪Independent: Tommy MacPherson
⚪Independent: Mick Rice, L1

Argyll and Bute Constituency Vote 2026
Argyll and Bute Constituency Vote Change vs 2021
Argyll and Bute Regional List Vote 2026
Argyll and Bute Regional List Vote Change vs 2021

Caithness, Sutherland and Ross

Constituency Map
Caithness, Sutherland and Ross Key Information

Constituency Winner: 🟠Lib Dem over 🟡SNP
Winner versus 2021: 🟠Lib Dem GAIN from 🟡SNP
Majority: 5092 (16.7%)
Spoilt Votes (Constituency): 112
List Vote Leader: 🟠Lib Dem over 🟡SNP
Lead: 2977 (9.7%)
Spoilt Votes (Region): 72
Electorate: 56542
Turnout: 54.0%

Caithness, Sutherland and Ross Candidates 2026

🟡SNP: Maree Todd (*C), L1
🔵Conservative: Donald MacKenzie, L7
🔴Labour: Eva Kestner, L3
🟠Lib Dem: David Green
➡️Reform UK: Steve Welsh
🟤Advance UK: Matt Sheppard, L1
🟤Alliance to Liberate Scotland: Andrew MacDonald, L2

Caithness, Sutherland and Ross Constituency Vote 2026
Caithness, Sutherland and Ross Constituency Vote Change vs 2021
Caithness, Sutherland and Ross Regional List Vote 2026
Caithness, Sutherland and Ross Regional List Vote Change vs 2021

Inverness and Nairn

Constituency Map
Inverness and Nairn Key Information

Constituency Winner: 🟡SNP over 🟠Lib Dem
Winner versus 2021 Notional: 🟡SNP HOLD
Majority: 427 (1.2%)
Spoilt Votes (Constituency): 134
List Vote Leader: 🟡SNP over 🟠Lib Dem
Lead: 222 (0.6%)
Spoilt Votes (Region): 109
Electorate: 67352
Turnout: 54.7%

Inverness and Nairn Candidates 2026

🟡SNP: Emma Roddick (*L), L3
🔵Conservative: Ruraidh Stewart, L4
🔴Labour: Shaun Fraser, L7
🟠Lib Dem: Neil Alexander
➡️Reform UK: Fred Campbell, L4
⚪Independent: Fergus Ewing (*C)
🟤Advance UK: Steve Skerrett, L2

Inverness and Nairn Constituency Vote 2026
Inverness and Nairn Notional Constituency Vote Change vs 2021
Inverness and Nairn Regional List Vote 2026
Inverness and Nairn Notional Regional List Vote Change vs 2021

Moray

Constituency Map
Moray Key Information

Constituency Winner: 🟡SNP over 🔵Conservative
Winner versus 2021: 🟡SNP HOLD
Majority: 2673 (8.1%)
Spoilt Votes (Constituency): 107
List Vote Leader: 🟡SNP over 🔵Conservative
Lead: 1135 (3.5%)
Spoilt Votes (Region): 85
Electorate: 67352
Turnout (Constituency): 54.7%

Moray Candidates 2026

🟡SNP: Laura Mitchell
🔵Conservative: Tim Eagle (*L), L1
🔴Labour: David Blair, 8
🟠Lib Dem: Morven-May McCallum, L1
➡️Reform UK: Max Bannerman, L2
🟤Advance UK: Les Durance
🟤Alliance to Liberate Scotland: Allan Duffy, L5

Moray Constituency Vote 2026
Moray Constituency Vote Change vs 2021
Moray Regional List Vote 2026
Moray Regional List Vote Change vs 2021

Na h-Eileanan an Iar

Constituency Map
Na h-Eileanan an Iar Key Information

Constituency Winner: 🔴Labour over 🟡SNP
Winner versus 2021: 🔴Labour GAIN from 🟡SNP
Majority: 154 (1.2%)
Spoilt Votes (Constituency): 59
List Vote Leader: 🟡SNP over 🔴Labour
Lead: 376 (3.0%)
Spoilt Votes (Region): 41
Electorate: 21808
Turnout: 57.0%

Na h-Eileanan an Iar Candidates 2026

🟡SNP: Alasdair Allan (*C)
🔵Conservative: George MacPherson, L5
🔴Labour: Donald McKinnon, L2
🟠Lib Dem: Jamie Dobson
➡️Reform UK: Malcolm McTaggart, L5
🟤Alliance to Liberate Scotland: Kenny MacKenzie, L3

Na h-Eileanan an Iar Constituency Vote 2026
Na h-Eileanan an Iar Constituency Vote Change vs 2021
Na h-Eileanan an Iar Regional List Vote 2026
Na h-Eileanan an Iar Regional List Vote Change vs 2021

Orkney Islands

Constituency Map
Orkney Islands Key Information

Constituency Winner: 🟠Lib Dem over 🟡SNP
Winner versus 2021: 🟠Lib Dem HOLD
Majority: 5560 (54.1%)
Spoilt Votes (Constituency): 32
List Vote Leader: 🟠Lib Dem over 🟡SNP
Lead: 2282 (22.3%)
Spoilt Votes (Region): 36
Electorate: 17841
Turnout: 57.8%

Orkney Islands Candidates 2026

🟡SNP: Robert Leslie, L2
🔵Conservative: Jamie Halcro-Johnston (*L), L2
🔴Labour: Mike Macleod, L5
🟠Lib Dem: Liam McArthur (*C)
➡️Reform UK: John Coupland, L7

Orkney Islands Constituency Vote 2026
Orkney Islands Constituency Vote Change vs 2021
Orkney Islands Regional List Vote 2026
Orkney Islands Regional List Vote Change vs 2021

Shetland Islands

Constituency Map
Highlands and Islands Shetland Islands Constituency Map 2026
Shetland Islands Key Information

Constituency Winner: 🟡SNP over 🟠Lib Dem
Winner versus 2021: 🟡SNP GAIN from 🟠Lib Dem
Majority: 1517 (13.2%)
Spoilt Votes (Constituency): 62
List Vote Leader: 🟠Lib Dem over 🟡SNP
Lead: 409 (3.6%)
Spoilt Votes (Region): 63
Electorate: 17979
Turnout: 64.2%

Shetland Islands Candidates 2026

🟡SNP: Hannah Goodlad, L4
🔵Conservative: Douglas Barnett, L8
🔴Labour: John Erskine, L4
🟢Green: Alex Armitage, L5
🟠Lib Dem: Emma Macdonald
➡️Reform UK: Vic Currie, L1
🟤Alliance to Liberate Scotland: Brian Nugent, L1
⚪Independent: Peter Tait

Shetland Islands Constituency Vote 2026
Shetland Islands Constituency Vote Change vs 2021
Shetland Islands Regional List Vote 2026
Shetland Islands Regional List Vote Change vs 2021

Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch

Constituency Map
Highlands and Islands Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch Constituency Map 2026
Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch Key Information

Constituency Winner: 🟠Lib Dem over 🟡SNP
Winner versus 2021 Notional: 🟠Lib Dem GAIN from 🟡SNP
Majority: 950 (2.4%)
Spoilt Votes (Constituency): 205
List Vote Leader: 🟠Lib Dem over 🟡SNP
Lead: 92 (0.2%)
Spoilt Votes (Region): 102
Electorate: 68130
Turnout: 57.8%

Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch Candidates 2026

🟡SNP: Eilidh Munro, L5
🔵Conservative: Helen Crawford, L3
🔴Labour: Isla McCay, L1
🟠Lib Dem: Andrew Baxter
➡️Reform UK: John Whitton, L6
🟤Alliance to Liberate Scotland: Laura Hansler, L4

Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch Constituency Vote 2026
Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch Notional Constituency Vote Change vs 2021
Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch Regional List Vote 2026
Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch Notional Regional List Vote Change vs 2021

List Seat Allocation Process

To allocate list seats using the D’Hondt method, each party’s share of the vote is divided by one more than the number of seats they’ve won so far in the process. This is an important part of how the list seats then more fairly represent the diversity of views amongst voters. List votes cast for a party that has won lots of constituency seats are not “wasted”, they just aren’t needed to give their voters fair representation.

Starting Point

When allocating the first list seat, this starts with the number of constituencies won by each party:

  • The SNP won 4 constituencies, so their vote is divided by 5.
  • The Lib Dems won 3 constituencies, so their vote is divided by 4.
  • Labour won 1 constituency, so their vote is divided by 2.
  • No one else won any constituencies, so their votes aren’t divided.
Seat 1

Since Reform have the highest total here, they receive the first regional seat. We add that to their total, giving them 1 seat overall so far, and therefore for the next round of allocation their share is divided by 2.

Seat 2

Since the Greens have the highest total here, they receive the second regional seat. We add that to their total, giving them 1 seat overall so far, and therefore for the next round of allocation their share is divided by 2.

Seat 3

Since the Conservatives have the highest total here, they receive the third regional seat. We add that to their total, giving them 1 seat overall so far, and therefore for the next round of allocation their share is divided by 2.

Seat 4

Since Reform have the highest total here, they receive the fourth regional seat. We add that to their total, giving them 2 seats overall so far, and therefore for the next round of allocation their share is divided by 3.

Seat 5

Since the Lib Dems have the highest total here, they receive the fifth regional seat. We add that to their total, giving them 4 seats overall so far, and therefore for the next round of allocation their share is divided by 5.

Seat 6

Since the Greens have the highest total here, they receive the sixth regional seat. We add that to their total, giving them 2 seats overall so far, and therefore for the next round of allocation their share is divided by 3.

Seat 7

Since the SNP have the highest total here, they receive the seventh and final regional seat. We add that to their total, giving them 5 seats overall. This completes the list seat allocation process.

Highlands and Islands: 2026 Regional List Candidates

The six parties that won seats in the Scottish Parliament in 2026 are listed in order of national support on the list vote. Remaining parties are in alphabetical order, and Independents listed last. Candidates that contested both the List and Constituency ballot have their constituency noted after their name on the list.

  1. Maree Todd (*C, Caithness, Sutherland and Ross)
  2. Robert Leslie (Orkney Islands)
  3. Emma Roddick (*L, Inverness and Nairn)
  4. Hannah Mary Goodlad (Shetland Islands)
  5. Eilidh Munro (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch)
  6. Jérémie Fernandes
  1. Vic Currie (Shetland Islands)
  2. Max Bannerman (Moray)
  3. Amanda Hampsey (Argyll and Bute)
  4. Fred Campbell (Inverness and Nairn)
  5. Malcolm McTaggart (Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
  6. John Whitton (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch)
  7. John Coupland (Orkney Islands)
  1. Islay McCay (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch)
  2. Donald McKinnon (Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
  3. Eva Kestner (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross)
  4. John Erskine (Shetland Islands)
  5. Mike Macleod (Orkney Islands)
  6. Callum George (Argyll and Bute)
  7. Shaun Fraser (Inverness and Nairn)
  8. David Blair (Moray)
  1. Ariane Burgess (*L)
  2. Kristopher Leask
  3. Kate Willis
  4. Draeyk Van der Horn
  5. Alex Armitage (Shetland Islands)
  6. Anne Thomas
  7. Julie Christie
  1. Tim Eagle (*L, Moray)
  2. Jamie Halcro Johnston (*L, Orkney Islands)
  3. Helen Crawford (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch)
  4. Ruraidh Stewart (Inverness and Nairn)
  5. George MacPherson (Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
  6. Peter Wallace (Argyll and Bute)
  7. Donald MacKenzie (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross)
  8. Douglas Barnett (Shetland Islands)

Note: Elaine Kirby, the 6th placed list candidate, stood down a few days before the election.

  1. Morven May McCallum (Moray)
  2. Alan Reid (Argyll and Bute)
  3. Declan Gallacher
  4. Angela MacLean
  5. Robert Rixson
  6. Guy Grieve
  7. Fiona Bennett
  1. Matt Sheppard (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross)
  2. Steve Skerrett (Inverness and Nairn)
  1. Brian Nugent (Shetland Islands)
  2. Andrew MacDonald (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross)
  3. Kenny MacKenzie (Na h-Eileanan an Iar)
  4. Laura Hansler (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch)
  5. Allan Duffy (Moray)
  6. Flora Badger
  1. Donald Boyd
  1. Kenny Stone
  2. Allan MacEachen
  3. Rachel Gibson
  4. Eva Morrice
  5. Harriet Woolmore
  1. Fiona Nelson
  1. Nicola Siddall

Note: Independent Green Voice are a front group for a bunch of Glasgow bampots, led by someone who was expelled from UKIP for alleged Holocaust denial. They are standing purely as a spoiler party in this election, targeting the legitimate Scottish Green Party, and their simple one candidate per region slate is further evidence of this dodgy dealing.

  1. Nathan Lumb
  1. Alasdair Fletcher
  2. Ruraidh Ormiston
  1. Willie Hamilton
  2. Brenda Nicholson
  1. Syed Hussain
  • Duncan MacPherson
  • Mick Rice (Argyll and Bute)

Region History

1999 to 2011 Boundaries

Elections in 1999, 2003 and 2007 for the Highlands and Islands were fought on boundaries that covered the entirety of the three islands councils (Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Orkney, and Shetland), Highland Council, and most of the Moray (excluding Keith) and Argyll and Bute (excluding Helensburgh and Lomond) Council areas.

At the first election the Lib Dems won both of the Northern Isles constituencies as well as the three mainland constituencies that have west coasts, whilst the SNP won the Inverness and Moray centred seats, and Labour what was then referred to in the Beurla as the Western Isles. Given the Lib Dems placed third in the list vote but won the most constituencies, they weren’t due any list seats, which split almost evenly between the SNP, Labour and Conservatives. One of those went to the SNP’s Winnie Ewing who, as the oldest member elected, convened the very first meeting of the new parliament.

Although generally more diverse than other regions, Highlands and Islands didn’t really contribute all that much to the “Rainbow Parliament”: effectively, Labour lost one of their seats to the Greens, and that was that. Note that the Lib Dems’ further slide on the list vote now meant their five constituency seats was two in excess of their due share. Had that not happened, the SSP would have won a list seat, adding their darker red hue to the seat spectrum.

The SNP’s first victory in 2007 had strong roots in this region, seeing them pick up both Argyll and Bute and the Western Isles, whilst still retaining their two list MSPs. The net loss was taken by the Greens and the Lib Dems who, for the first time, actually ended up with their correct total allocation in this region.

2011 to 2026 Boundaries

Elections in 2011, 2016 and 2021 for the Highlands and Islands were fought on boundaries that covered the entirety of the three islands councils (Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Orkney, and Shetland), Highland Council, and most of the Moray (excluding Buckie and Cullen) and Argyll and Bute (excluding Helensburgh and Lomond) Council areas. 

Their shock 2011 majority saw extreme SNP success in this region, picking up both the Caithness, Sutherland and Ross and the Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch seats, as well as an additional list MSP. Let me emphasise that: an additional list MSP. They already had two. That gave them three.

If you’re just eyeballing the charts above you might think the SNP were doing what the Lib Dems used to and winning an excessive number, but nope! You can’t get list seats unless you’re due them! That was just the way the AMS cookie crumbled this time, though the Greens were only about 0.2% away from snatching one of those list seats away from them… which they would ultimately do during the term anyway, when John Finnie quit the SNP and then later joined the Greens.

2016 is where we start to see a massive realignment in the SNP vote, something a lot of people have still failed to come to terms with. They lost two list seats here, one apiece to the Conservatives and the Greens. That came from losing about 8% of their list vote, whereas the Greens only went up about 2%. Previously one of the party’s main strongholds, the referendum saw SNP support move away from north of the country and into the Central Belt.

The only substantial change in 2021 was that Labour lost one of their list seats to the Conservatives, the first time they had ever been reduced to a single MSP in any region.

Minor Party Results Summary

Due to the number of minor parties and candidates contesting the election, and the small number of votes each received, it would not be feasible to display them as part of the main entry for each constituency. Instead, they are listed here by total regional vote. Full figures per constituency are available in the published results spreadsheet.

  • Advance UK: 418 (0.2%)
  • Alliance to Liberate Scotland: 1662 (0.8%)
  • Independence for Scotland Party: 1276 (0.6%)
  • “Independent Green Voice”: 1577 (0.8%); 7.2% the size of the genuine Green vote
  • Scottish Christian Party: 1142 (0.6%)
  • Scottish Family Party: 1668 (0.8%)
  • Scottish Libertarian Party: 333 (0.2%)
  • Scottish Rural Party: 772 (0.4%)
  • Scottish Socialist Party: 461 (0.2%)
  • Worker’s Party Scotland: 390 (0.2%)
  • Duncan MacPherson: 4587 (2.3%)
  • Mick Rice: 226 (0.1%)

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