Labour's Lillian Jones has promised to "deliver change" after being elected in Kilmarnock and Loudoun.

The Kilmarnock West and Crosshouse councillor received 19,055 votes, with the SNP's Alan Brown on 13,936.

The result was announced at the Galleon Centre in Kilmarnock at 2.37am on Friday morning - the first in Scotland to return its result.

She said: "I am honoured and grateful to those voters who have put their trust in me.

"To every resident of Kilmarnock and Loudoun, I will work tirelessly in everyone's interests to be a voice and a representative for the whole community.

"I know many people would have either voted Scottish Labour for the first time at this election, or have come back to vote Scottish Labour. 

"This was a vote for change, and as your MP, I will deliver and do everything I can do deliver that change. 

"During this campaign, I've listed to thousands of people who told me the country needed change. 

"They want money in their pockets and good, secure work, now and for the future, both for them and their children. 

"They want us to get our much loved and needed NHS back on its feet.

"Kilmarnock and Loudoun has voted for an end to the Tory chaos, it's now time to start rebuilding our country together."

  • Lillian Jones (LAB) - 19,055
  • Alan Brown (SNP) - 13,936
  • Jordan Cowie (CON) - 3,527
  • William Thomson (REF) - 3,472
  • Bex Glen (GRN) - 1,237
  • Edward Thornley (LIB DEM) - 850
  • Stephen McNamara (IND) - 401

Labour's share of the vote increased by 26 per cent on the last election in 2019, with Ms Jones securing 44.9 per cent of the total.

The SNP's vote share dropped by 18 per cent on the last election, with Alan Brown, who had represented the area at Westminster since 2015, getting 32.8 per cent.

Mr Brown said: "I've loved working as an MP for the area, I love representing the constituents of Kilmarnock and Loudoun and I love trying to help people.

"Disappointed i'm not in the position to do that going forward. I'll review my options and see what the future holds. 

"As one door closes, another one opens."

The Conservative candidate, Jordan Cowie, held on to third place by a whisker, despite seeing his party's vote share drop by 16 per cent.

Mr Cowie's total was just 55 votes more than that of Reform UK candidate William Thomson.

Cowie said: "The campaign was a difficult one. Kilmarnock and Loudoun was the SNP's second safest seat.

"It was a really tough campaign but I loved it. It wasn't too surprising to see Labour winning this seat by some margin. 

"It was an honour to see the crosses in my box, and I'm looking forward to hopefully going again at some point."

Green candidate Bex Glen, Edward Thornley for the Liberal Democrats, and independent candidate Stephen McNamara all lost their deposits after getting less than 5 per cent of the vote.