The result provides some relief for Starmer, whose party has suffered a steep fall in support after it raised taxes, cut welfare benefits and got into a row over donations.

But there are "some caveats". Labour won a Westminster by-election there less than two years ago with a majority of about 9,500 and triumphed at the 2024 general election by a "similar margin", but this time they "squeaked through" on a "thin margin" margin of 602 votes.

Reform is an "electoral force north of the border" - finishing just three percentage points behind the SNP, writes Sky's Rob Powell.