In truth, it has been a bad result, for both parties of power in Scotland.
After 17 years in government at Holyrood, the SNP appears to be in serious trouble.
The Conservatives, running the UK government for the last 14 years, have also suffered a setback – sliding from second to joint third-placed Scottish party at Westminster.
It could be worse for them if the Liberal Democrats beat the SNP in Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire. That result’s been delayed until Saturday.
The Tories have only actually lost one Scottish seat – down from six to five MPs. It is those massive Labour gains from the SNP that have done most to displace their overall standing.
In the past, the Scottish Conservatives have successfully corralled unionist voters to beat the SNP in some parts of Scotland.
That may still have had some potency this time but my overall sense is that the public did not see this as an independence election. It was not a defining issue.
Boris Johnson’s dishonesty over Partygate during Covid and the economic failure of the mini-budget during the brief administration of Liz Truss may have turned some voters against the Tories.
Campaign mis-steps from Rishi Sunak, such as cutting short his participation in D-day commemorations, may have stunted the potential for growth the Scottish Tories felt was possible six weeks ago.
Having failed to get re-elected to Westminster, their Scottish leader Douglas Ross can fall back on his job as a list MSP at Holyrood.
However, his credibility as a devolved politician has taken a knock given that he made clear he would be quite happy to abandon his post representing the Highlands and Islands in the Scottish Parliament had he won a seat at Westminster.
We already know he’s quitting his leadership position, pre-announced during the campaign following an internal row about his decision to be a Westminster candidate.
