Reform UK has won its first seat in Scotland following a council by-election in West Lothian.
David McLennan took the seat in the Whitburn and Blackburn ward with 1,177 votes.
The turnout for the by-election was 22% of the electorate.
Callum Cox of the SNP came second with 1,026 while Labour’s Samuel McCulloch came third with 627 votes.
Glasgow Reform councillor Thomas Kerr called the win “historic”.
“Scotland’s forgotten working-class communities won’t be silenced anymore,” he said.
“Watch this space folks, we’re just getting started.”
The by-election win comes after a new poll suggests Reform UK are gaining ground behind the SNP ahead of next year’s Holyrood elections.
The poll also suggests that Scottish Labour’s support has fallen.
The Ipsos Scotland Political Pulse survey of 1,061 adults, conducted between November 27 and December 3, shows the SNP on 35% of the Scottish Parliament constituency vote.
That’s a 17-point lead over Reform UK, who stand on 18%, up four points since June.
Scottish Labour’s constituency vote share has dropped seven points since June to 16%.
The poll also revealed that healthcare and the NHS is the top concern for 57% of voters ahead of May’s election.
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