Election: Scottish voters turned to three different parties to oust the SNP
VOTERS in three constituencies outside Glasgow turned to three different parties to oust the SNP - but all were united by their opposition to Nicola Sturgeon's plan for another referendum.
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Tactical voting was a major factor in East Renfrewshire, East Dunbartonshire and Rutherglen and Hamilton West, with the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Labour all boosted by Unionist support.
East Renfrewshire - formerly Eastwood - was once regarded as the safest Conservative seat in Scotland and new man Paul Masterton is the latest in tradition of Tory MPs stretching back to the 19th century.
Most people in the leafy suburb of Newton Mearns were delighted to see the back of Nationalist MP Kirsten Oswald after just two years.
Taxi driver Ian Thomas, a 69-year-old Scottish Conservative supporter, said: "We did not see an eye to eye when we were at the community counci. I knew what she was up to.
It is clear why the SNP crashed. It’s Nicola Sturgeon. Everybody hates her
"I had to stay up until 3am to watch that one.
"It is clear why the SNP crashed. It’s Nicola Sturgeon. Everybody hates her.
"Her talk of a second independence referendum was her biggest downfall.
"But it was Ruth Davidson who was really good, especially compared to Theresa May who was rubbish. I wonder if she did in on purpose, running scared of the Brexit negotiations?"
Retired Rolls Royce worker Vinnie Disotto, 65, voted for Labour but is happy with the result since it meant ousting the SNP.
"To be honest, anything is better than the Nats,” he said, adding: “I think even people who were for independence before agree that that particular vote was lost and that was it and let’s get on with it."
Mrs Disotto, also 65 and a part-time market researcher, gave her vote to Mr Masterton.
“I just feel the Tories are the best option for this area. We just want to get on with our lives without any further uncertainty over the future.”
The Lanarkshire town of Rutherglen is just seven miles away along Ayr Road and voters there saw Labour's Ged Killen as the candidate with the best chance of defeating Margaret Ferrier.
Ron Docherty is clear the SNP made a “huge miscalculation” by pushing for a second independence referendum.
“We’ve already had one and now Nicola Sturgeon wants another one,” he said. “It’s nonsense. It’s far too soon.”
As a Labour voter he feels Mr Killen is the right man for the job for his home town but has “little good to say” about Scottish Conservative leader, Ruth Davidson.
“She’s a Margaret Tatcher clone,” he insisted. “I can’t see much charm in her.”
Margaret Davidson, 62, is taking a break from the bingo and said she gave her vote to the SNP.
Yet she is certain there was one reason why the party failed in her constituency.
She said: “They lost seats because of Nicola Sturgeon. She is far too divisive and did herself no favours with all this talk of independence.
“To have a Labour MP here again - well it doesn’t really bother me.
“It’s hard to say what the over all result will mean for Scotland or UK. All we can do is to wait and see.”
Across the Clyde, East Dunbartonshire saw former Lib Dem minister Jo Swinson win back the seat she lost to John Nicolson in 2015.
In Bishopbriggs, Gordon Dyllon said he was surprised by Teresa May’s “election disaster”.
The 54-year-old voted Labour but is not unduly distressed his candidate lost to Ms Swinson.
“Och, I’m just glad the Nats didn’t get back in," he said.
“I think people are fed up with Nicola Sturgeon and her tunnel vision for Scotland. If she’s not careful she’ll find her party is going the same way as Ukip who’ve made themselves totally irrelevant with the Brexit result.
“A lot of people went to SNP as a protest following the first independence referendum but realised it was not a right move."
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Retired optometrist Jack Bogle, 78, also gave his vote to Labour yet is “quite happy” to see Ms Swinson return as an MP.
“She is very approachable,” the grandfather-of-three said. “I have contacted her in the past about a few things and she has always listened to what I have to say.
“The SNP’s focus is too much on independence and not on the day job as the opposition keeps pointing out.
“Mrs May’s decision to hold an early election was foolish at its best. She was so sure, she felt she was quite certain to do well and it came back to haunt her.”