Sir John Curtice, Professor of Politics at Strathclyde University, tells BBC Scotland News it is a "remarkably good result" for the Labour party.

"It's well above the kinds of swings we've seen in the opinion polls in Scotland.

"The Labour vote is up to nearly 59%, that's 24 points.

"That means the Labour vote in the constituency is almost as high as it was in 2010 before the tsunami that swept the Labour party from virtually every constituency in Scotland."

He adds that the swing of about 20% was more or less twice what has been showing in the opinion polls.

Sir John added that he suspected if this kind of swing were to be replicated across Scotland as a whole then Labour would "quite clearly" be the dominant party in Scotland again.

Everyone apart from the Labour and SNP candidates lost their deposit, leading Sir John to declare that this was "a two-horse race with one very, very clear winner".

Anas Sarwar says "Scottish politics has fundamentally changed" and that this is "a seismic night here in Scotland".

The Scottish Labour leader adds the result sends a very clear message that people are "sick of two tired, failing, incompetent governments".

"They're desperate for a fresh start, they're desperate for a change," he says, adding that the "vehicle for that change is now Scottish Labour."

"Scotland will lead the way in delivering a UK-wide Labour government".

Image source, Getty Images

Michael Shanks says: "People need change from governments that have too often been distracted."

He says across Scotland, in communities like thi,s people have been let down.

"People are once again listening to the Scottish Labour Party."

He adds: "Change is possible."

Michael Shanks, the new MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West, says: "It's truly the honour of my life to be elected to serve to people of Rutherglen and Hamilton West."

Shanks thanks his team for their work over the last six months.

He also thanks all his fellow candidates, but saves his biggest thank you for the people who voted for him.

The Labour MP says his campaign offered a "fresh start", breaking away from the divisiveness of the SNP and Conservative governments.

The results are in. A total of 30,531 votes were cast. 54 ballots were rejected.

Here's a breakdown of how many votes each candidate secured:

• Gloria Adebo (Scottish Liberal Democrats) - 895
• Bill Bonnar (Scottish Socialist Party) - 271
• Garry Cooke (Independent) - 6
• Andrew Daly (Independent) - 81
• Cameron Eadie (Scottish Greens) - 601
• Prince Ankit Love, Emperor of India - 34
• Niall Fraser (Scottish Family Party) - 319
• Ewan Hoyle (Volt UK) - 46
• Thomas Kerr (Scottish Conservatives) - 1,192
• Katy Loudon (SNP) - 8,399
• Chris Sermanni (Scottish Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition) - 178
• Michael Shanks (Scottish Labour) - 17,845
• David Stark (Reform UK) - 403
• Colette Walker (Independence for Scotland Party) - 207

Labour has defeated the SNP in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election.

The party's candidate, Michael Shanks, takes the Westminster seat with 17,845 votes.

The by-election was called after former SNP MP Margaret Ferrier was ousted for breaking Covid rules.

Both Labour and the SNP were eyeing victory to land an early blow ahead of the next general election, which is expected to be held in 2024.

The candidates make their way to the stage ahead of the result being read out.

A win to celebrate... but not for longpublished at 01:40 British Summer Time 6 October 2023

01:40 BST 6 October 2023

Kirsten Campbell
BBC Scotland political correspondent

The new MP will only represent Rutherglen and Hamilton West for a matter of months.

There has to be a general election by January 2025, so voters can expect to go to the polls again soon.

Boundary changes mean the current seat will be split in two, with 76% of the constituency moving to the new Rutherglen seat, with the final quarter forming part of the new Hamilton and Clyde Valley seat.

As we wait for the result, which is now expected within the next 10 minutes or so, here's a reminder of who the candidates to be the next Member of Parliament for Rutherglen and Hamilton West are:

• Gloria Adebo (Scottish Liberal Democrats)
• Bill Bonnar (Scottish Socialist Party)
• Garry Cooke (Independent)
• Andrew Daly (Independent)
• Cameron Eadie (Scottish Greens)
• Prince Ankit Love, Emperor of India
• Niall Fraser (Scottish Family Party)
• Ewan Hoyle (Volt UK)
• Thomas Kerr (Scottish Conservatives)
• Katy Loudon (SNP)
• Chris Sermanni (Scottish Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition)
• Michael Shanks (Scottish Labour)
• David Stark (Reform UK)
• Colette Walker (Independence for Scotland Party)

We'll bring you the result as soon as we get it and, of course, you can watch it live - just click on the play icon at the top of the page.

Meghan Gallacher, the Scottish Conservatives' deputy leader, concedes that her party's vote has been squeezed in this by-election.

The MSP admits that her party might lose their deposit (a reminder - in order to stand in a UK parliamentary election, candidates pay a £500 deposit which is refundable if they receive at least 5% of votes, external).

"If we do lose our deposit tonight, it's not the doom and gloom scenario that might be painted by some," she insists - pointing to the success the party had enjoyed in previous elections in Scotland.

Angus Cochrane
BBC Scotland News

This seat has switched between the SNP and Labour at the past three elections.

But Labour MSP Monica Lennon, born and raised in South Lanarkshire, insists voters still believe her party can deliver change.

She says people are “angry” about former SNP MP Margaret Ferrier – ousted after breaking Covid rules – but says the cost of living crisis is the biggest concern for most constituents.

The MSP tells BBC Scotland News they feel “badly let down” and “abandoned” by governments at Holyrood and Westminster.

She says voters know Labour are “preparing to be in government”.

The latest estimate for the result is now around 01:15, so don't go away.

You can watch the declaration at the count by clicking on the play icon at the top of the page.

We'll bring you all the reaction to the result, as well as full analysis.

Angus Cochrane
BBC Scotland News

As we've been reporting, this by-election could turn out to be a defining moment in the electoral fortunes of the SNP and Scottish Labour.

Rutherglen and Hamilton West has changed hands between the parties in each of the past three general elections.

The constituency in South Lanarkshire was created for the 2005 general election and was considered a Labour stronghold until 2015.

That year, Margaret Ferrier won it for the SNP with a majority of 10,000 votes.

Labour’s Ged Killen reclaimed the constituency in 2017 by less than 300 votes.

Ferrier then retook the seat in 2019 with a majority of more than 5,000.

Angus Cochrane
BBC Scotland News

Cameron Eadie, the candidate for the Scottish Greens, concedes he will not be the next MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West.

But he tells BBC Scotland News his campaign has helped “lay the groundwork” for a second Green MSP in Glasgow - which he believes the party will “100%” deliver at the next Scottish Parliament election.

Eadie says his party was always likely to lose out under the “unfair” first-past-the-post system used in Westminster elections but that the by-election has been a good opportunity to “energise activists”.

He is backed by Green MSP Ross Greer, who says his party has already got what they wanted from this by-election.

Support they've garnered from this Westminster fight would be enough for another Glasgow MSP, says Greer, and bodes well for council elections too.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar and Labour candidate Michael Shanks are looking confident.

We're still expecting the result within the next half-hour.

Are Labour on the hard road back to power?published at 00:47 British Summer Time 6 October 2023

00:47 BST 6 October 2023

James Cook
Scotland Editor, BBC News

So, no surprises so far.

Turnout was low on a wet and blustery day in October.

Labour are confident, insisting their message about “two failing governments” has cut through.

The party says voters have repeatedly raised concerns about the SNP’s stewardship of public services and the Conservatives’ management of the economy.

The SNP agree that cost of living issues have come up a lot on the doorsteps.

But the party is downbeat about its prospects. “I don’t think anyone is expecting a win,” said one senior SNP source, stressing that the seat had flip-flopped between the two parties in recent elections.

In truth, victory here is the bare minimum that Sir Keir Starmer needs if he is to make progress on what he calls the hard road back to power.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar tells BBC Scotland News "this is a seismic moment".

"I think we are really confident of a really strong showing in this constituency," he adds.

Mr Sarwar hopes tonight's events will be a good "springboard" into the next election.

"To everyone who has voted for us in this constituency, thank you. We won't let you down.

"But this is not the end. This is just the start of rebuilding something special for our country and delivering the change that Scotland needs."

Labour's candidate, Michael Shanks, has now arrived at the count.

He was joined by Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar.

They arrived in the hall to cheering and clapping, as supporters anticipated victory.

The SNP's Katy Loudon arrived earlier.

If you're just joining our live coverage of the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election, here are the main headlines so far:

• Polls closed at 10:00 and we're expecting a result around 01:00
• The word from the count is that Labour supporters are the happiest on the floor and quietly confident of a win
• Labour sources are predicting a 7 or 8% majority
• Turnout at 37.19% is well down from the last general election
• Both Labour and the SNP had been eyeing victory to land an early blow ahead of the next general election
• Scotland's first recall by-election was triggered after constituents voted to oust former SNP MP Margaret Ferrier, who breached Covid rules

Stay with us for analysis and reaction and, of course, the result.