Scotland turns yellow as SNP looks on course to wipe out Labour

The changing face of the UK's political landscape is becoming clear as the SNP looks to be on course to wipe out Labour in Scotland.

With Nicola Sturgeon's party on course for a landslide victory in the country, the political map of the UK has begun to look very different, with yellow the clearly dominant colour north of the border.

A dramatic collapse in support for Labour has seen Scottish leader Jim Murphy and shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander both losing their seats.

Elsewhere, Lib Dem business minister Jo Swinson lost her East Dunbartonshire seat to the SNP and sources at the Inverness count have confirmed to The Independent that Cabinet minister Danny Alexander has accepted he has also lost his seat.

Mr Murphy's 18 year career as an MP was brought to an end by 20-year-old student Mhairi Black, who claimed the East Renfrewshire seat.

The full extend of the SNP's support in Scotland was clear with several constituencies seeing swings of more than 30 per cent.

In Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, considered the safest Labour seat in Scotland and previously held by Gordon Brown, the SNP easily overturned a majority of 23,000, with Labour candidate Kenny Selbie receiving 17,654 votes – nearly 10,000 fewer than nationalist Roger Mullin.

Mr Murphy said it was an "enormous" moment for the SNP, but insisted his party's fightback would start tomorrow.

Elsewhere, former SNP leader Alex Salmond returned to Westminster after winning the Gordon seat from the Lib Dems, polling more than 27,000 votes.

As the result was declared, Mr Salmond said: "The Scottish lion has roared this morning across the country."

Additional reporting by PA