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Reform UK has won its first ever council by-election in Scotland after it defeated both the SNP and Labour. ‌

Nigel Farage's party previously relied upon defectors, mainly from the Conservatives, for its elected representatives on local authorities. ‌

But a breakthrough in the Whitburn and Blackburn by-election in West Lothian will give the right-wing populists renewed confidence ahead of May's Holyrood poll. ‌

Reform's David McLennan triumphed after winning 1,177 of the first-preference votes, ahead of the SNP on 1,028. Labour was a distant third on 627.

The result is a further blow for Anas Sarwar after a Scotland-wide poll showed Labour's support has dropped seven points since June.

McLennan said: "I want to thank the people of Whitburn and Blackburn

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