Labour is bracing for heavy losses in Scotland and Wales as the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru surge.
In Scotland, all 129 seats were up for election at Holyrood while voters in Wales have voted to decide the 96 members of the Senedd.
Wales is expected to see a straight fight between Plaid Cymru and Reform UK, with a chance Labour First Minister Eluned Morgan could lose her seat in Mid and West Wales.
Meanwhile, things are looking brighter for First Minister John Swinney, who is looking to maintain the SNP’s grip on Holyrood – where it has been the largest party since 2007.
The fate of Reform UK Scotland remains yet to be seen, but Lord Offord’s party has been polling well for the first time at Holyrood and looks poised to win at least a dozen seats.
One of the key battles taking place north of the border is between Lord Offord’s party and Anas Sarwar’s Scottish Labour for second place.
Leader of the Welsh Green Party Anthony Slaughter is looking to become the first ever Senedd member for his party as Zack Polanski’s party is looking to make gains across the UK.
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Labour gears up to lose control of Wales – with ‘succession plans in progress for Eluned Morgan’
Labour sources are bracing for the party to lose power in Wales for the first time since devolution
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Labour officials in Wales are said to have held discussions about a succession plan for First Minister Baroness Morgan if she loses her seat.
The party has been locked in talks over appointing an interim party leader should the FM be forced out, The Times reports.
Those running in safer seats have reportedly been approached about taking on the role on a part-time basis so a leadership battle can take place in the months to come.
Labour sources, meanwhile, are bracing for the party to lose power in Wales for the first time since devolution.
Welsh Labour insiders admit: ‘We’re f***ed’ – as speculation grows over First Minister’s ‘Portillo moment’
Welsh Labour insiders have shared a damning series of assessments of their party’s performance as polls closed this evening.
“Reality is setting in and it is going to be brutal,” one told Sky News, with another adding: “We are absolutely f***ed.”
And First Minister Baroness Morgan could even be in store for a “Portillo moment”.
“I think she’ll be very lucky if she does get in,” one source said.
On the record, Welsh Labour’s official statement reads gloomily.
Campaign chairman Huw Irranca-Davies said the party faced a “tough election campaign” under “difficult circumstances”.
“In the days ahead, we will reflect carefully and listen with humility to what voters are telling us. There will be no dodging. No deflection. Just determination to put things right,” he said.
“Throughout this campaign, Eluned Morgan has shown positive, energetic and determined leadership in very difficult times.”
Plaid Cymru appears bullish after pollsters suggest last-minute surge in support
Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth appeared bullish on Thursday evening as polls closed in Wales.
Aggregate Senedd voting intention polls had tipped his party to take in a surge in support late in the campaign – and his words appeared to reflect that.
“Thanks to each and every one of you for the support, the encouragement and the statements of confidence in Plaid Cymru’s vision for the future of our nation,” he said.
“In campaign time, your commitment and your willingness to go the extra mile for Wales means so much. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Late on in the race for the Senedd, both Plaid and Reform UK had ticked up in the polls to 31.2 and 28.4 per cent respectively, while all of Labour, the Tories and Greens endured a late sink.
It remains to be seen just how that will play out as declarations are made in the hours to come.
Welsh Labour: ‘Let’s deliver the next chapter together’
Welsh Labour has also released a statement following the close of voting on Thursday.
“Thank you to everyone who who came out to support Welsh Labour today,” the party said.
“Let’s deliver the next chapter for Wales together.”
Reform UK Wales leader hails campaign as polls close
Reform UK’s Wales leader Dan Thomas has hailed his party’s Welsh campaign as polls closed across the country.
“What a campaign,” he said. “Thank you to all our candidates, volunteers and supporters.”
Anas Sarwar shares statement as polls close
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has broken his silence on the results of today’s election.
“To every Scottish Labour candidate, activist and volunteer across Scotland – thank you,” he said.
“We’ve run a positive campaign focused on hope, change and the future Scotland deserves.
“And to everyone who voted for change – thank you for putting your trust in Scottish Labour. From every leaflet delivered to every door knocked, you’ve carried our message with pride and determination. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”
Scottish party leaders coy on results of knife-edge Holyrood election
Party leaders in Scotland have been coy so far on the results of today’s crunch Holyrood election.
As polls closed at 10pm, leaders released statements thanking their campaigners – though none appeared to give away any results, as they have done south of the border.
SNP leader and First Minister John Swinney said: “I am incredibly proud of the positive, ambitious campaign the SNP has run over the last six weeks.
“And I am proud that we are the only party to have run a truly national campaign – we have been active and campaigning in every part of Scotland.”
Scottish Labour’s deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: “We ran an ambitious campaign and we are proud of it.
“We have championed a serious plan and have put forward a serious and credible candidate for First Minister, Anas Sarwar.”
Tory leader Russell Findlay said: “As the polls close, I want to thank all the Scottish Conservative candidates, activists and volunteers who have worked tirelessly across Scotland to get our message out over this campaign.
“I am proud of our manifesto we produced which was full of ambitious policies to get Scotland working again after two decades of SNP failure.”
And Greens co-leader Gillian Mackay said: “The Scottish Greens are grateful to everyone who has put their trust in us and backed our positive and hopeful vision for Scotland.
“We are also grateful to everyone who has made this election possible, including everyone who will be working and volunteering at the counts.”
How does the Senedd election work?
This year’s Senedd election differed from previous years, with the Welsh Parliament expanding and a new proportional voting system being introduced.
There are 16 constituencies in Wales, with each represented by six members of the Senedd, resulting in a total of 96 being elected.
Under the new system, the number of candidates elected from each party will be based on the percentage of votes the party receives, and they will be elected in order from a list compiled by their party.
Ballot papers will be counted during the daytime on Friday, with the first results expected in the early afternoon and the final declarations due in the evening.
How does the Holyrood election work?
Here’s how the Holyrood elections work
| GETTY
Under the Scottish Parliament’s electoral system, voters elect 73 constituency representatives and a further 56 MSPs from eight regional lists.
Unlike previous elections, other than 2021 because of the Covid-19 pandemic, votes will be counted on Friday rather than overnight, with the final result likely to be known by late Friday evening.