Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said his party’s shock victory in a Holyrood by-election could help propel him into power next year – as he declared he wants to “gain scores of seats across the country” in a bid to defeat the SNP.

Mr Sarwar and his party celebrated in the early hours of Friday morning after Labour’s Davy Russell was elected as the new MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, winning the seat from the SNP.

With the votes showing a swing of more than 7% from the SNP to Labour, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said on Friday the result showed people have “voted for change”.

The by-election had been held following the death earlier this year of Scottish Government minister Christina McKelvie.

When the votes were counted, Mr Russell polled 8,559, SNP candidate Katy Loud

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