Scottish National Party candidate Kirsten Oswald has claimed the scalp of the country’s Labour leader Jim Murphy, taking the Glasgow seat of East Renfrewshire with a 48.5 per cent swing.

Ms Oswald won 23,013 votes, five times more than the 4,535 SNP managed in 2010, with Mr Murphy falling from 25,987 votes - a majority of all votes cast - to 19,295 this time round.

The predicted SNP surge came to fruition across Scotland.

The East Renfrewshire seat is home to around half of the country’s 6,000 Jews.

Mr Murphy, a former chair of Labour Friends of Israel, will now have to face tough questions about his prominent position in the party.

After the result was announced, he promised to continue as leader, telling the crowd at the count: “The fightback starts tomorrow morning.”

In a graceful speech, he also said: “It has been a real pleasure to represent our constituency for the last five years. Kirsten, I wholeheartedly congratulate you and wish you every success in your parliamentary career”.

The new MP, who raised £7,000 for the campaign through online crowdfunding, caused controversy by sending a letter to Conservative voters days before the election entitled: “Please lend me your vote”.

In the message, Ms Oswald asked constituents who favoured the Tories to back her because she “understands your values, your concerns and your priorities.”