Polls close and count begins to replace late MSP in Holyrood by-election

The polls have closed and counting is under way in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election.

Ten candidates are going head to head in a bid to replace late MSP Christina McKelvie.

The SNP government minister died in March at the age of 57, having last year taken medical leave to undergo treatment for secondary breast cancer.

The contest takes place less than a year before the Scottish parliament election, with the result potentially offering a snapshot of how the political landscape north of the border will look in 2026.

The SNP will be seeking to hold on to the seat, given the heavy losses to Labour at last year's UK general election.

However, all eyes are on Reform UK and whether it will enjoy a "tartan bounce" following the party's recent slew of local election wins in England.

The 10 candidates standing in the Holyrood by-election:

• Collette Bradley, Scottish Socialist Party• Andy Brady, Scottish Family Party• Ross Lambie, Reform UK• Katy Loudon, Scottish National Party (SNP)• Janice MacKay, UK Independence Party (UKIP)• Ann McGuinness, Scottish Green Party• Aisha Mir, Scottish Liberal Democrats• Richard Nelson, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party• Davy Russell, Scottish Labour Party

• Marc Wilkinson, Independent

Campaigning became heated in the run-up to the by-election, with Reform UK accused of running a "racist" ad on Facebook against Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage continued to double down, accusing his rival of "sectarian politics".

In response, the Scottish Labour MSP branded Mr Farage a "poisonous little man" and accused him of running a "campaign of dirt and smear".

Mr Sarwar added: "Frankly, it's water off a duck's back, because I'm fighting to change our country, he wants to divide it."

While Reform UK is yet to win an election north of the border, First Minister John Swinney earlier said the by-election was a "two-horse race" between the SNP and Mr Farage's party.

The SNP leader urged voters to get behind his party and "defeat the gutter politics" of Mr Farage, warning: "Or they will end up with a Reform MSP."

The votes are being verified and manually counted at South Lanarkshire Council headquarters in Hamilton. The result is expected in the early hours of Friday.

This news story will continue to be updated as the count continues. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.