Former Aberdeen South Labour MP Dame Anne Begg said her defeat to the SNP was part of a “national tide” and dismissed suggestions it was down to the decisions of Aberdeen City Council’s Labour-led administration.
Dame Anne spectacularly lost her seat to the Nationalists’ Callum McCaig on Thursday by more than 7,000 votes after holding the constituency for 18 years.
She was one of 40 Scottish Labour members swept out of the Commons by the ride of support for the SNP.
Mr McCaig, the former opposition leader at the city council, had suggested controversial projects such as the Marischal Square development had helped sway people to the SNP.
But Dame Anne rubbished the suggestion last night.
She said: “I was just swept up in the national tide. I actually did a lot better than some of the other Labour MPs in Scotland.”
The former MP added she had enjoyed “a normal weekend” but worried for her staff who will now be made redundant.
She said: “One of my staff has been with me for 17 years so it will be really hard to leave it behind.”
