Labour has pulled off a shock win in the Hamilton by-election, humiliating First Minister John Swinney.
The SNP leader had claimed Labour was 'out of it' just hours before the polls opened.
But Anas Sarwar's party won by persuading voters to set aside their anger over UK Government cuts and back a 'new direction' after 18 years of SNP government.
It was the second electoral reversal for Mr Swinney since he became First Minister just over a year ago - his party lost 39 of its 48 MPs at last year's general election.
Labour's Davy Russell became the new MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse shortly after 1.30am ,erasing an SNP majority of 4,582 to win by 602 votes.
