Summary

  • Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf says "the buck stops with me" after the SNP suffers a heavy defeat in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election

  • Labour's Michael Shanks secured a resounding victory over the SNP's Katy Loudon with a larger than expected swing of 20.4%

  • Yousaf acknowledges a "disappointing night" for the SNP but points to "reckless actions" of Margaret Ferrier

  • The vote was triggered by the removal of former Scottish National Party MP Ferrier after she broke Covid rules

  • Earlier Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer celebrated the party's landslide win in Rutherglen, telling campaigners they "blew the doors off"

  • "Scotland will lead the way in delivering a UK Labour government," Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said

  • Conservative support fell by 11% with candidate Thomas Kerr securing so few votes the party lost its deposit

  1. Voters desperate to oust SNP, says Lib Dem candidatepublished at 00:28 British Summer Time 6 October 2023

    Angus Cochrane
    BBC Scotland News

    Gloria Adebo

    Liberal Democrat candidate Gloria Adebo says her party is holding out hope of a third-place finish.

    She tells BBC Scotland News it’s been a positive campaign, but it seems it won’t be enough to break the SNP-Labour hegemony in the constituency.

    Her team claims constituents are “desperate” to oust the SNP, with some switching to the Lib Dems. Though under the first past the post system, they acknowledge Labour are the most likely challengers.

    They say they aim to build on the campaign for future council and Scottish Parliament elections.

  2. SNP candidate arrives at countpublished at 00:24 British Summer Time 6 October 2023

    Katy Loudon

    The SNP candidate Katy Loudon has arrived at the count.

    Ms Loudon was smiling as she entered the hall at the South Lanarkshire Council HQ, stopping to hug supporters.

    She did not take any questions from journalists

    The Labour candidate, Michael Shanks, is due to arrive shortly.

    A result is expected about 01:00.

  3. The counting continues in earnest...published at 00:20 British Summer Time 6 October 2023

    Votes are being countedImage source, PA Wire
    Image caption,

    Votes are counted in the count hall at the South Lanarkshire Council HQ in Hamilton

    The count continuesImage source, PA Wire
    Image caption,

    We're still expecting the result around 01:00

    Counting agents in the hall at the South Lanarkshire Council HQImage source, PA Wire
    Image caption,

    Counting agents poring over estimated numbers

  4. Analysis

    Lessons to be learnedpublished at 00:15 British Summer Time 6 October 2023

    Philip Sim
    BBC Scotland political correspondent

    10 Downing StreetImage source, Reuters

    It is always dangerous to read too much into by-election results, as standalone contests under a spotlight, often with low turnout and a high number of candidates.

    But with a general election in the offing, political anoraks will be desperate to dig out lessons to learn.

    To start with, this will be an interesting indicator of how real Labour’s revival in the polls is. They’ve had a decent swing from the SNP on paper – but will that turn up in the ballot box?

    How well will the SNP be able to turn out its core vote? Will the electoral juggernaut established by Nicola Sturgeon run as strongly under Humza Yousaf?

    Will tactical voting play a big role? To what extent will unionist voters swing behind the Labour challenger, and how many votes might the pro-independence Greens sap from the SNP?

    And what will all that tell us about the issues which are most important to the electorate? Are they itching for a change of government at Downing Street, chiefly concerned with the cost of living, or hankering for an independence referendum?

    Perhaps the most important outcome will be momentum. The winning party will feel they have some impetus on their side heading into a national contest, while the loser will have to work to turn things around.

  5. Turnout way down on the last general electionpublished at 00:12 British Summer Time 6 October 2023

    Kirsten Campbell
    BBC Scotland political correspondent

    The turnout at 37.19% is better than the Airdrie and Shotts by-election in 2021 which was 34.3 % but nowhere near last general election in this seat which was 66.5%.

  6. Turnout of 37.19%published at 00:09 British Summer Time 6 October 2023
    Breaking

    Angus Cochrane
    BBC Scotland News

    The turnout figures for the by-election have just been confirmed.

    • Turnout 37.19%
    • Total electorate 82,104
    • Total number off votes cast 30,531
  7. 'Labour will measure their success by the scale of victory'published at 00:07 British Summer Time 6 October 2023

    Sir John Curtice

    Sir John Curtice, Professor of Politics at Strathclyde University, tells BBC Scotland News we will be asking "how well" Labour have won rather than simply who has won.

    He says that Labour will be "well satisfied" if they lead by 10 points or so.

    If their victory comes in much lower than five points, they would be disappointed, he adds.

  8. Will the Tories lose their deposit?published at 00:04 British Summer Time 6 October 2023

    craig hoy

    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

    Scottish Conservative chairman Craig Hoy is asked whether he has heard speculation that his party's candidate may lose their deposit.

    Hoy says they had always expected their vote to be squeezed in this by-election, and that he had not heard that the party may lose their deposit.

    Labour were standing before an open goal, and it would have been shocking had the party lost, he said.

  9. Tory vote going to Labour, says Brownpublished at 00:01 British Summer Time 6 October 2023

    Keith Brown
    Image caption,

    The SNP's deputy leader believes Tory votes have gone to Labour

    Keith Brown accepts this by-election has presented a "challenging set of circumstances".

    The deputy leader of the SNP says: "It was always quite clear to us that the Tories were going to do what they could to prop up the Labour candidate.

    "The Tory vote has more or less collapsed. It's gone to the Labour party."

  10. It does look like it's a Labour victory, says Bailliepublished at 23:56 British Summer Time 5 October 2023

    Labour MSP Jackie Baillie
    Image caption,

    Jackie Baillie says her party has been warmly received on the doorstep

    Jackie Baillie tells Martin Geissler on the BBC Scotland election special programme: "It does look like it's a Labour victory."

    The deputy leader of Scottish Labour stresses that she will not prejudge the result.

    What she does say is: "We have fought extremely hard, for a long period of time to win every single vote."

    She adds Scottish Labour has knocked on 80,000 doors and accepts people must be "quite sick of politicians" by now.

  11. Labour sources predicting a 7 or 8% majoritypublished at 23:54 British Summer Time 5 October 2023

    David Wallace Lockhart
    Political correspondent

    The talk isn't really about which party is going to win this by-election because there seems to be acceptance here that Labour have managed to get over the line and take this seat.

    The talk now is about the scale of Labour's victory.

    One party source told me earlier it was looking comfortable, talking of majorities in the 7 or 8% range.

    Potentially, if things go very well, that percentage could go up into the double figures.

    SNP sources have said this by-election was always going to be an uphill battle.

  12. How you can follow the election resultpublished at 23:43 British Summer Time 5 October 2023

    Martin on set

    The result is expected to be announced in the early hours of Friday.

    This live page will provide updates, analysis and a live stream.

    A by-election special programme will be shown on BBC One Scotland and the iPlayer from 23:40.

    BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland will cover al;l the reaction to the result from 06:00 on Friday.

  13. Concerns over voter ID and the weather affecting turnoutpublished at 23:37 British Summer Time 5 October 2023

    Angus Cochrane
    BBC Scotland News

    votes being countedImage source, Getty Images

    Both Labour and SNP insiders are saying the requirement for voter ID – being used for the first time in a Scottish election – has led to people being turned away from polling stations.

    While some voters were able to go home and collect eligible ID before returning to polling booths, the impact of the new rules will not be known immediately.

    Pouring rain is also believed to have put a dampner on voter turnout this morning.

    Labour are confident that a strong postal voting campaign will pay off, though it is speculated that the overall turnout could be lower than 40%.

    The returning officer is expected to deliver a report to the Electoral Commission on how turnout has been affected by voter ID rules.

  14. Party leaders with a lot on the linepublished at 23:31 British Summer Time 5 October 2023

    Andrew Kerr
    Scottish political correspondent

    Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar and Labour candidate for the possible Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election Michael Shanks (right) during a visit to RutherglenImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was flanked by Scottish leader Anas Sarwar and their candidate Michael Shanks on the campaign trail

    Scottish Labour have poured resources into this seat, even temporarily moving their headquarters here.

    Sir Keir Starmer has visited the constituency a few times.

    I interviewed him in the Rutherglen shopping centre.

    His team were friendly enough, but wary – well aware of the significance of a win here and its impact on general election momentum.

    It was a similar vibe from Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor, who also came up to the constituency a couple of times.

    SNP leader Humza Yousaf joins SNP candidate Katy Loudon (second left) during a dance class at the Tempo Community Hub in Rutherglen for campaigning ahead of the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-electionImage source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    Humza Yousaf danced as the SNP launched its by-election campaign back in August

    But that nervous edginess was not confined to Labour – the SNP knew there was a big job ahead.

    Humza Yousaf attempted to look relaxed as he danced in a community centre with his candidate as they launched her campaign back in August.

    It can’t be easy being a new political leader.

    He’s facing an electoral test seven months in – although Nicola Sturgeon’s first election was six months after becoming first minister.

    Mr Yousaf is also going to his first conference as leader in about 10 days’ time.

    If he’s battle-scarred from a defeat,- that would not be a good look as he faces an unsettled membership.

    For both men, there’s a lot at stake.

  15. The view from the count...published at 23:20 British Summer Time 5 October 2023

    Votes
    Image caption,

    The result is expected at about 01:00

    The count
    Image caption,

    The count is well under way

    Count
    Image caption,

    As ever, the media are making their presence felt

    Journalists at the count are being exceptionally well catered for by South Lanarkshire council with tea, coffee and cakes
    Image caption,

    Journalists at the count are being well catered for by South Lanarkshire Council with tea, coffee and very traditional Scottish treats

    Here's a quick snapshot from the count.

    It's good to see our hard working colleagues are being provided with some sustenance!

  16. Labour already looking to manage expectationspublished at 23:12 British Summer Time 5 October 2023

    David Wallace Lockhart
    Political correspondent

    Count
    Image caption,

    At the count, speculation about the result is already brewing

    The expectation management about the scale of a Labour victory is already beginning.

    Labour sources say taking 40% of the vote would be a great result.

    The SNP are arguing that anything below 50% for Labour is underwhelming.

    It’s true that when this was a safe Labour seat the party used to take a hefty percentage of votes.

    But times have changed, and this seat hasn’t been straightforward ground for Labour for a long time.

    It feels like the debate, post-result, will all centre on the scale of Labour victory.

  17. Analysis

    A testing ground for general election strategiespublished at 23:03 British Summer Time 5 October 2023

    Philip Sim
    BBC Scotland political correspondent

    This by-election has been a useful testing ground for parties ahead of the next general election.

    The SNP’s messaging has shifted subtly across the course of the campaign.

    In the early days, there was a big focus on the constitution; almost every press release had a subtitle about how only the SNP were offering “real change with independence”.

    In recent weeks, though, the party has been campaigning more like the opposition than the incumbent, constantly “challenging” Labour and urging voters to “send a message” to Sir Keir Starmer – as if he’s already prime minister.

    Labour, meanwhile, have been working on devolution, having Anas Sarwar hone more local messages for the Scottish electorate.

    This may be important in a nation-wide contest where Sir Keir will be spending more of his time pitching for the support of former Tory voters in England.

  18. What ID was required to vote?published at 22:54 British Summer Time 5 October 2023

    UK passportImage source, PA Media

    Accepted forms of ID allowing people to vote include a passport, driving licence, or National Entitlement Card for concessionary travel, including a 60+, disabled or under-22s bus pass.

    While the rules apply to Westminster votes and English local elections, they will not be used in Holyrood ballots or Scottish local elections.

  19. Analysis

    First election in Scotland requiring voter IDpublished at 22:51 British Summer Time 5 October 2023

    Kirsten Campbell
    BBC Scotland political correspondent

    PassportImage source, PA Media

    This is the first election in Scotland where voter ID has been required.

    The Electoral Commission has asked for data to be gathered on how many people are turned away from polling stations because they don't have the correct documents with them, and how many of them return with the appropriate photo ID so they can vote.

    It will only capture those who make it as far as the desk inside. Those who see the warning notice at the door and leave before entering the polling station will not be counted.

    The information was required by law for the local government elections in England earlier this year, but is being provided voluntarily by the returning officer for this by-election.

    Research by the Electoral Commission found that 4% of the people who said they did not vote in the council elections gave an unprompted reason that was related to the ID rules – 3% said they did not have the necessary ID and 1% said they disagreed with the need to show ID.

    The findings from this election and the by-elections in Mid Bedfordshire and Tamworth on 19 October are expected to be published in late November.

  20. Analysis

    Labour sense the enthusiasm is backpublished at 22:43 British Summer Time 5 October 2023

    David Wallace Lockhart
    Political correspondent

    This was always a fight between Labour and the SNP, but speaking to both sides it’s becoming clear that those involved think this seat is going back to Labour.

    One Labour source told me it was the first time in a number of years that they were detecting “enthusiasm” for the party in Scotland.

    One SNP insider conceded that Rutherglen and Hamilton West is going Red, it’s just a question of by how much.

    If Labour’s majority as a percentage goes to double figures, they said it was “post-mortem” territory.

    Counting is getting underway with a predicted result about 01:00. We’ll start to get a clearer picture as the votes are tallied.