Labour’s by-election victory in Rutherglen and Hamilton West comes as the party – and its rivals – hope to build momentum ahead of a general election expected to take place next year.

This year we’ve already seen major developments in by-election races the length of the United Kingdom, notably on 20 July when three votes took place.

Labour overturned a majority of more than 20,000 to take the North Yorkshire seat of Selby and Ainsty from the Conservatives, while the Liberal Democrats also saw a dramatic swing to take Somerton and Frome from the ruling party.

The Conservatives did have some success on that dramatic day, narrowly holding onto former prime minister Boris Johnson’s Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat.

If you are trying to work out what has just happened, and why there's been a by-election, here's a quick guide for you:

A by-election is called when a seat in the House of Commons becomes vacant between general elections.

A seat can become vacant when an MP in Westminster:

• resigns or dies
• is declared bankrupt
• takes a seat in the House of Lords
• is convicted of a serious criminal offence,
• makes a false or misleading expenses claim
• is suspended by Parliament for more than 10 sitting days

In this case, the by-election was held because enough voters in Rutherglen and Hamilton West signed a recall petition for former SNP MP Margaret Ferrier, who had breached Covid rules.

Ferrier had already been kicked out the SNP and became an independent MP. But a by-election doesn't have to take place when an MP changes political party - it was only triggered after people voted for her to be removed from her seat.

Life-long Conservative voter David, from Burnside, tells BBC Radio Scotland he had become a tactical voter.

"Last night was the first time I put my X against Labour," he admits.

He says he's sorry that Scottish Conservatives candidate Thomas Kerr lost his deposit, but adds: "He's a lovely guy, but it was a message to the SNP and Holyrood that they cannot get away with things any more.

Michelle, from Rutherglen, says she is a disillusioned SNP voter who struggled to get appointments with her doctor and was very impressed with Labour's "down-to-earth" Michael Shanks.

"One of the biggest things is to fix our NHS - it's very sad where we've gone with the NHS and GPs," she says. "With Michael it seems like a fresh start for me in the area."

Speaking to the BBC earlier, Stephen Flynn, the SNP's leader in Westminster, said the party must look at what happened and work to re-motivate people.

Image source, Getty Images

We've just heard from both the Scottish and Westminster Labour leaders at their victory rally in Rutherglen. Here's a quick reminder of what they said:

• Newly elected MP Michael Shanks described the result as "remarkable", and said it was the "honour of my life" to speak to thousands of voters during the campaign

• Scotland's Labour leader Anas Sarwar echoed these thoughts, saying voters had sent a message to the "failing" Tory and SNP governments
• He added that Scotland will "lead the way" in delivering a UK-wide Labour victory, but the party must continue to work hard to regain voters' trust
• Keir Starmer was similarly in a celebratory mood, telling the assembled campaigners they "blew the doors off" the by-election
• He also used the opportunity to attack "nodding dog" Prime Minister Rishi Sunak over the cancellation of the HS2 and "circus" of the Tory conference in Manchester
• Starmer also emphasised that his party had changed, and said their upcoming conference in Liverpool was an opportunity to put their "positive case for change" to voters

No doubt Labour see this a crucial moment on road back to powerpublished at 10:54 British Summer Time 6 October 2023

10:54 BST 6 October 2023

Nick Eardley
Political correspondent

You can almost feel the optimism at this Labour victory rally.

We’ve been told tectonic plates are shifting. Analysis suggesting labour could win 40 plus seats is being discussed.

There is no doubt Labour see this as a crucial moment on what they hope is a road back to power.

But remember, Scottish politics is pretty unpredictable. A general election is months, maybe even a year away. In that time the SNP will do everything they can to rebuild.

After his speech, Keir Starmer spoke to the BBC to say the party has faced "challenges through this campaign", but it has "knocked them aside and pulled off a historic victory".

He calls today a "historic day" for Labour, for Scotland and, he says, hopefully the general election, before adding that the party would work hard for the change people needed.

Starmer says the Labour Party will be laying out their "positive case for change" at the party conference in Liverpool.

"Because we have changed, we can answer the question 'why Labour?'" Starmer tells the crowd.

"Because we have changed we are hungry for power, and we are ready to serve across Scotland and across the United Kingdom."

Image source, Getty Images

Starmer mentions the Conservative Party conference in Manchester this week, calling it a "circus".

He describes PM Rishi Sunak as a "nodding dog", while the party's MPs welcome Nigel Farage and the cabinet jostles for the prime minister's job.

He also says the result in this by-election is not due to "a few months of turmoil" within the SNP, but about "years and years of non-delivery".

However, he also says the party still has "work to do" in Scotland.

Keir Starmer opens his speech by hailing a series of reforms and political victories for the party against people's predictions.

He congratulates the victorious Labour activists, praising Michael Shanks and the assembled members for a "fantastic campaign" in which they "blew the doors off".

"We are now the party of change" across the UK, the Labour leader adds.

Image source, Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

"We have with energy and humility and hard work reached out to try and earn your trust and support," adds Sarwar.

"But that hard work doesn't stop now that we've won this by-election," he adds. "That work ramps up to earn your trust."

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar is up next and says voters have sent a message to two "failing" governments that "we want an end to the incompetence and chaos... to the division... and instead we want a fresh start for Scotland and change for every part of our community".

Praising Shanks, he says he is incredibly proud of the campaign in the constituency and the fact his party has been able to secure Scottish Labour's first parliamentary by-election win for over 12 years.

"Scotland will lead the way in delivering a UK Labour government," he says.

Shanks ends his speech by thanking those who have voted for the party in the by-election.

"The change starts here, but it certainly doesn't end here. Change is coming across the UK," he says, before introducing Keir Starmer and Anas Sarwar.

More from Shanks, who says the win is a "huge opportunity" for people, as change is possible now in Scotland and across the UK.

He says he will spend his time as an MP fighting for his constituents, adding that he is "incredibly proud" of the leadership of Anas Sarwar and Keir Starmer.

Shanks adds that the victory shows people are beginning to trust Labour again, and will help them to "get rid of this morally bankrupt Tory government at the next election".

Scotland's newest MP Michael Shanks takes to the stage saying this is a "remarkable result".

He says it has been the "honour of my life" to talk to the thousands of people he's met during the campaign, having visited every single street in this constituency.

"Change now is possible not only in Scotland but across the whole of the UK," he says.

Michael Shanks, the new MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West, is introduced on stage by Jackie Baillie, the Scottish Labour Party's deputy leader, as well as Ian Murray, the only other Labour MP in Scotland.

The pair are reading out the results of the by-election, saying the party has won "one whopping majority" and "one seismic swing".

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is now on stage in Rutherglen, he is about to start speaking at a rally to celebrate the party's victory there.

Stay with us as we bring you the latest.

As we wait for the Labour leader to speak, here's the latest shot of the stage surrounded by party activists and banners.

Labour exceeded their highest expectationspublished at 10:16 British Summer Time 6 October 2023

10:16 BST 6 October 2023

Glenn Campbell
BBC Scotland Political Editor

Labour needed to win this by-election and they needed to win it well.

Why? To demonstrate that they are back in business in Scottish politics, with the potential to contribute meaningfully to UK-wide success for their party at the next general election.

Those involved in Labour’s campaign must be pinching themselves to believe just how well they have won in Rutherglen and Hamilton West - exceeding their highest expectations.

Their prize is not only doubling the number of Scottish Labour MPs at Westminster - from one to two - but securing a potentially powerful change in the political narrative in Scotland.

The SNP has tended to monopolise the sense of political momentum and for the first time in many years, Labour has snatched that from them.

That’s a big problem for the SNP leader Humza Yousaf who already appears to be less popular than his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon and has inherited from her serious challenges in the public services and a police investigation into the party’s finances.

This by-election puts the SNP under considerable pressure because while it remains the first placed party in national opinion polls, it knows that victory cannot be taken for granted.

Nick Eardley
Political correspondent

This is a big moment for Keir Starmer. It will give his party a big boost going into their conference this weekend.

We’re expecting him in the constituency shortly for a victory rally.