Rutherglen and Hamilton West: Polls close in by-election
- Published
Polls have closed in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election.
Scotland's first recall by-election was triggered after constituents voted to oust former SNP MP Margaret Ferrier, who breached Covid rules.
Both Labour and the SNP are eyeing victory to land an early blow ahead of the next general election, which is expected to be held in 2024.
A total of 14 candidates are standing for election to the House of Commons in the South Lanarkshire seat.
Polling stations opened at 07:00 and closed at 22:00.
A Labour win in Rutherglen and Hamilton West would bolster its hopes to form a majority UK government at the next general election, which must be held by early 2025.
The SNP is aiming to pass its first major electoral test since Humza Yousaf succeeded Nicola Sturgeon as leader.
The SNP won Rutherglen and Hamilton West in 2019 with a majority of 5,230, making it one of the party's most vulnerable Westminster seats. The constituency has changed hands between the SNP and Labour at each of the past three general elections.
The by-election comes after almost 12,000 constituents signed a recall petition against Ferrier. She was given 270 hours of community service after being convicted of breaching Covid regulations in 2020.
It's only a few hours until we know exactly what the people of Rutherglen and Hamilton West have decided today. You can never be completely certain at this time of night what's going to happen.
But I've had chats with several people from different parties tonight and none seem to think the SNP will hold the seat.
Senior Labour figures are confident. They won't say how much they think they'll win by, but they think they are going to win. If they don't, something will have gone seriously wrong for the party.
Sources in the SNP are conceding they don't think they'll win. They blame a mixture of factors. It seems turnout among their support has been poor and the terrible weather hasn't helped.
If Labour win, a key question will be how much by. In the past few weeks, senior figures in the party have been eyeing up a comfortable majority which could indicate they are on course to win 15-20 seats in Scotland.
Having been removed from the SNP Westminster group, Ferrier sat in the Commons as an independent before being recalled.
The by-election is the first time new voter ID rules were used in Scotland.
The Electoral Commission launched a campaign with South Lanarkshire Council to make people aware of the requirements amid concerns that voters could be turned away at polling stations.
Accepted forms of ID included 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 Scottish Parliament or council elections in Scotland.
The vote will adhere to Westminster's first past the post rules, with only one candidate being elected.
How can I find out the result?
A by-election special is being broadcast on BBC One Scotland
The result is expected to be announced in the early hours of Friday.
A By-election Special will be shown on BBC One Scotland from 23:40.
A live page on the BBC Scotland News website will also provide updates, analysis and a live stream.
BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland will cover the reaction to the result from 06:00 on Friday.
Who is standing in the by-election?
The confirmed list of candidates standing in the by-election are (in alphabetical order):
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 (Independent)
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)
- Published12 September 2023
- Published1 August 2023
