Scottish Labour wins Bellshill by-election with over half the votes
Anne McCrory is the new councillor
Labour's won a landslide win in a council by-election in it's one-time heartlands in North Lanarkshire, capturing a seat which was won in at the last local elections by the SNP.
The vote in Bellshill was sparked by the resignation of the former North Lanarkshire Council leader Jordan Linden, who is now being investigated by the police after an allegation of sexual assault was made.
Anas Sarwar has hailed Labour's "incredible result" in capturing the seat.
READ MORE: Labour regains control of North Lanarkshire Council
Labour's Anne McCrory won easily by securing 1,440 votes, comfortably ahead of the SNP candidate Joseph Budd, who polled 753. Colin Cameron of the Scottish Conservatives came in third with 236 votes.
After the results were declared, Mr Sarwar said on Twitter: "Incredible result! Congratulations to Scottish Labour's newest Councillor, Anne McCrory.
Des Murray, returning officer in the by-election said: "I would like to congratulate Anne McCrory on her election, and I look forward to seeing her at the next council meeting."
The SNP lead over Labour has dropped from 21% last year to 4%, a poll suggests.
Anas Sarwar's party has been on a steady upward trajectory since the leader took over just months before the Holyrood election in 2021.
READ MORE: Ex-SNP councillors form breakaway group
Poll lead closes
It comes as the SNP lead over Labour has dropped from 21% last year to 4%, a poll suggests.
Anas Sarwar's party has been on a steady upward trajectory since the leader took over just months before the Holyrood election in 2021.
A poll by Savanta for the Scotsman spoke to 1,018 people between June 9 and 14 - which covers both before and after the arrest of former first minister Nicola Sturgeon.
Ms Sturgeon was subsequently released without charge pending further investigation as part of the probe into the SNP's finances.
According to the survey of voting intentions for the next Westminster election, 38% said they would back the SNP, 34% would vote Labour, 17% support the Tories, and 7% would back the Liberal Democrats.
In a poll by the same company last June, the SNP boasted 46% support compared to 25% for Labour.