‘Immaculate’ election count

ALL FOUR Shetland candidates in this year’s Scottish Parliament election have lavished praise on the team responsible for running an “immaculate” and “commendable” count this year.

Returning officer Jan Riise and his deputy Anne Cogle, aided by a total of 62 staff, ensured the count at Clickimin Bowls Hall ran smoothly and even finished slightly ahead of schedule.

Victorious Liberal Democrat candidate Tavish Scott said it was the “most professional count anywhere in Scotland” and a “commendable operation”, while the SNP’s Danus Skene said it was an “immaculately conducted process”.

Those remarks were echoed by Labour’s Robina Barton and the Tories’ Cameron Smith.

Turnout in the election, at 62 per cent, was up on the 54 per cent figure for the 2011 Scottish election.