SNP sources are briefing that they expect to lose the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election – as Labour sound confident of a win.
Shortly after polls closed at 10pm, SNP figures began privately conceding that they wouldn’t hold the seat they won back in 2019. A low turnout is also expected.
One source suggested that the party’s campaign had been about “expectation management”, with the SNP feeling a loss was in store from the time the by-election was confirmed.
Another suggested that the result of the night should be used as a “kick up the backside” for the party’s current leadership.
A result is now expected to come in the early hours of Friday morning.
The Rutherglen and Hamilton West seat was vacated when former SNP MP Margaret Ferrier was ousted in a recall petition.
Ferrier was kicked out of the party for breaching Covid regulations by travelling between London and Glasgow after testing positive for the virus.
Speculation about her position followed by the recall petition and subsequent ballot have led to months of campaigning in the seat.
SNP candidate Katy Loudon is up against Labour’s Michael Shanks and Tory hopeful Thomas Kerr in the by-election.
During the day, The National heard reports of people being turned away from polling stations due to new legislation requiring voter ID. It was the first time the requirements have been in place at an election in Scotland.
Local elections held in England in May saw the widespread need for voters to show ID for the first time.
The following month, figures from the Electoral Commission suggested that around 14,000 people had been blocked from voting after they could not show a correct form of ID.
A spokesperson for South Lanarkshire Council said on Thursday: “We are not aware of any notable issues at any polling stations."
