The LibDems’ Alex Cole-Hamilton UNIONIST tactical voting saw the Conservatives, Labour and the LibDems all hold onto seats being challenged by the SNP as voters backed the party they believed had the highest chance of defeating Nicola Sturgeon’s party. Former Tory leader Jackson Carlaw was re-elected in Eastwood after Labour’s vote slumped by a massive 15% from 2016. Carlaw received 17,911 votes beating the SNP’s Colm Merrick who netted15,695. Labour got just 6759, taking third place. In the SNP target seats of Edinburgh Western and Edinburgh Southern unionist supporting voters also swung behind what they regarded as the strongest pro-UK party in the area.