The polls have closed in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election.
Counting is now underway at South Lanarkshire Council’s headquarters in Hamilton, with the SNP hoping to hold on to the seat vacated following the death of Scottish Government minister Christina McKelvie.
The contest was initially viewed as a battle between the SNP and Labour, but Reform saw a surge during the campaign, with the party thought to have a good chance of unseating Labour and coming second.
A third place for Labour, behind Reform, would spell another blow for Sir Keir Starmer, coming soon after his party lost the Runcorn and Helsby by-election.
Shortly after polling closed, Jackie Bailie, deputy leader for Scottish Labour, said the result was too close to call.
She said: “Voters know the SNP has taken this area for granted for too long. Scottish Labour will work tirelessly to earn their trust.”
First Minister John Swinney described the contest as a “two-horse race” between his party and Reform, but Labour has consistently said they are still in with a chance.
The First Minister said voters should back his party in order to “stop Farage”.
He added: “People face a simple choice in this by-election. They can either vote for the SNP – elect an SNP MSP – or they will end up with a Reform MSP. That’s the simple choice.”
Reform are yet to win an election at any level in Scotland, but boasts a number of defected councillors.
Mr Farage himself, in a visit to Scotland this week, said it was unlikely his party would win, despite recent polls suggesting Reform was second in voter preference in Scotland with just 11 months to go to the next Holyrood election.
