Sturgeon calls SNP election results 'devastating' as Scottish Labour dominate

Nicola Sturgeon, speaking on ITV News' overnight election programme, called the SNP results 'devastating'

Former Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has called the collapse of the SNP "devastating" after a bruising election night left the party on the brink of winning less than 10 seats.

Scottish Labour overturned almost a decade of SNP dominance in Scotland's Westminster seats, sweeping the party out of Glasgow and Edinburgh.

An exit poll by Ipsos UK for ITV News/Sky News/BBC had projected the SNP would win 10 seats, but as of Friday morning, the party was sitting on just eight.

It marks a stark contrast for the SNP from the previous election, when it won 48 seats.

SNP leader and Scottish First Minister John Swinney pledged a period of "soul searching" after what he described as a "very poor" performance for his party.

Despite the results, Swinney's predecessor, Sturgeon, insisted he was the "best guy to lead us forward", adding: "We've got to reflect on how we regain that trust with people on core issues of delivery and also re-inject a bit of hope for the future.

"And you know, is that going to be easy after a result like tonight? Undoubtedly not."

Swinney told a press conference on Friday that the SNP had "failed to convince" the people of Scotland on independence.

He said he took "full responsibility" for the election results, adding: "We [SNP] need to take the time to consider and to reflect on how we deliver our commitment to independence - which remains absolute."

Swinney added: "The Scottish National Party needs to be healed and it needs to heal its relationship with the people of Scotland, and I am absolutely committed to doing that."

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said he was "absolutely delighted" with his party's performance and thanked the people of Scotland for "putting their faith and trust in the Scottish Labour Party".

He added Swinney "has got a lot of reflecting to do on a lot of things" after the party's dismal performance.

"He spent the entire six weeks attacking the Labour Party because it seems the only person more depressed at the thought of the Tory government ending and the Labour government was John Swinney and the SNP," he said.

"You can see the verdict of the Scottish people, both to his approach in this election campaign but also the SNP's approach to government, where they have failed far too many people."

Have you heard our new podcast Talking Politics? Tom, Robert and Anushka dig into the biggest issues dominating the political agenda in every episode…