By-election is now 'three-way' battle says First Minister

John Swinney says next week's Hamilton, Larkhall & Stonehouse by-election is "a three-way contest" between the SNP, Labour and Reform.

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The First Minister, making his third visit in eight days to the battleground constituency ahead of next Thursday's Scottish Parliament by-election, says his party is "working very hard" to retain the seat held for the last 14 years by Christina McKelvie for the SNP - but says the outcome of the June 5 poll is "very difficult to call".

He was speaking at Hamilton Central railway station as he and candidate Katy Loudon highlighted the Scottish Government's forthcoming abolition of peak rail fares, which they say could save the line's regular commuters up to £900 per year, and where they were joined by a host of Holyrood ministers.

Mr Swinney said: "It's a tight contest and a lot can happen in the [remaining] days. We've been working hard for ages and we're seeing Reform support, it's visible; Labour support is visible and our support is visible so that's the three-way contest and we're working hard to make sure we end up on the right side of it.

"I think it's very difficult to call. I'm seeing Reform support on the doors, Labour support and thankfully quite a lot of SNP support which is heartening me. It's difficult to call as to where our principal challenge comes from, but if people are worried about [Nigel] Farage getting a foothold in Scotland, their safest approach is to vote SNP to stop that."