Robin Harper, principal speaker of the Scottish Green Party, wept as he won a seat in the Scottish Parliament on the regional list in the Lothians.

Robin Harper: "This is an absolutely historic occasion"

Clinching his fist and waving it in the air, the 58-year-old teacher was cheered as he pledged: "Today for Greens in the UK is an absolutely historic occasion. I'm the first Green!

"Keir Hardie was elected at the end of the last century and the colour of his century was socialist. For the next century, the colour for the future of the world has to be green.

"It's turning that way all across Europe. We don't have to be in power, we just have to be there to help things along.

"I will do my best in the Scottish Parliament to help all the other parties.

Robin Harper celebrated an emotional electoral win for his party

"I will be there as a critical colleague to make sure they will keep those promises they have made on the environment."

He then joked about not wanting to emulate Gwyneth Paltrow - a reference to the actress who broke down and sobbed after winning best actress at the Oscars.

But Mr Harper could not help himself and began crying during his speech.