'Destroying the SNP' is possible after Labor's seismic by-election victory, say Scottish Conservatives

Anas Sarwar (right), leader of Scottish Labor, celebrates with Michael Shanks after winning the by-election. Photo: Jane Barlow/PA Katie Louden, SNP candidate, watches Mr Shanks give his victory speech Photo: Jane Barlow /PA

The Tories won only 3.9 per cent of the vote in the by-election, compared to 15 per cent in the last general election.

Michael Shanks, the Labor Party candidate, easily overturned Margaret's 5,230-vote majority Ferrier, who was later suspended by voters for breaking Covid rules, left the Scottish National Party in 2019. He now has a majority of 9,401 votes.

Keith Brown, deputy leader of the Scottish National Party, insisted his party had run a «positive, energetic and exciting campaign» despite the disappointing result.

He appeared to acknowledge that unionists had tactically voted to break up the Scottish National Party.

He added: “As the Tories face the prospect of losing all their seats in Scotland, with the devastating result that has led to loss of deposit, it was Sir Keir Starmer's pro-Brexit Labor Party that received support from Tory voters.»