SNP
result 'best since the 1970s'
BBC News - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/election2010/results/constituency/849.stm
A great 3.8% increase from 2005
The
SNP is on course for its best Westminster election performance in more than 30 years, according to leader Alex Salmond.
The party said it had secured decisive wins in seats like Dundee East, Perth and North
Perthshire, Angus and Moray.
However, it failed to take its target seat in Dundee West
and lost in Glasgow East, which John Mason had captured from Labour in a by-election in 2008.
Mr
Salmond said the party had recorded a "strong performance".
He
said the SNP's vote had increased in key seats across the country.
'Decisively
rejected'
"Early results suggest the SNP is on course for our best result
since the 1970s in a Westminster election," said Mr Salmond.
"The Lib Dems have
failed in Scotland and are being pushed into third or even fourth place.
"The picture
across the UK may be unclear, but it is clear the Tories have had a disastrous night as they have once again been decisively
rejected across Scotland."
During the campaign Mr Salmond said a hung parliament,
where no single party wins a Commons majority, would provide an "opportunity" for change.
