EDINBURGH • Scottish nationalists have lost significant ground, with former party leader Alex Salmond and British Parliament leader Angus Robertson losing their seats, weakening their push for independence after voters returned to parties opposed to holding another referendum on leaving the United Kingdom.

Scottish National Party (SNP) leader Nicola Sturgeon said it was "a disappointing result" for her party, two years after it won a landslide in Scotland, and admitted that the focus on independence was undoubtedly a factor in the poor result.

Scottish Conservative Party leader Ruth Davidson said "there wouldn't have been so many SNP losses tonight if Nicola Sturgeon hadn't tried to force through an unwanted second independence referendum in March".

REUTERS