Glasgow Anniesland By-elections 2000

The votes are being counted in the Glasgow Anniesland by-election caused by the death of Scotland's First Minister Donald Dewar in October.

The constituency's 24 polling stations opened at 0700GMT and closed at 2200GMT.

BBC Scotland's chief political correspondent John Morrison said voting had been slow during the day and turnout was expected to be about 38 or 39%, down from the 52% seen at the Scottish Parliament election last year.

However, our correspondent said this turnout should ensure Labour would hold the seats.

1997 general election result

Labour: 20,951 (61.8%) SNP: 5,797 (17.1%) Tory: 3,881 (11.5%) Lib Dem: 2,453 Lab. maj. 15,154 (47.43%)

The first minister's death in October left a double vacancy.

He represented the constituency at Westminster and in the Scottish Parliament.

At the 1997 general election, Mr Dewar, who died from a brain haemorrhage, increased to 15,154 his majority in the seat he had held since 1978.

In 1999, at the first elections to the new Scottish Parliament, he also became Anniesland's first MSP with a majority of 10,993.

The Scottish National Party has been striving to repeat its near success in Hamilton South earlier this year when it came within 600 votes of taking the seat from Labour.

1999 Scottish Parliament result

Labour: 16,749 (58.81%) SNP: 5,756 (20.21%) Tory: 3,032 (10.65%) Lib Dem: 1,804 (6.33%) Lab. maj. 10,993 (38.6%)

To avoid any confusion, voters were given separate, colour-coded ballot papers.

The ballot paper for the Scottish Parliament ballot was lilac, while the paper for Westminster was white.

The two counts are taking place simultaneously on Thursday evening with the first declaration due about 0030GMT and the second half an hour later.

Two other by-elections are taking place - in Preston and West Bromwich West.

The latter was caused by the retirement of Betty Boothroyd, former speaker of the House of Commons.

The full list of candidates is:

Westminster

• Dorothy Luckhurst, Scottish Conservative

• William Lyden, Family Action Movement

• Charlie McCarthy, Scottish Socialist Party

• Christopher McGinty, Scottish Liberal Democrats

• John Robertson, Scottish Labour

• Grant Thoms, Scottish National Party

Scottish Parliament

• William Butler, Scottish Labour Party

• Thomas Chalmers, SNP

• Judith Fryer, Scottish Liberal Democrats

• Rosie Kane, Scottish Socialist Party

• Kate Pickering, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party

• Murdo Ritchie, Socialist Labour Party

• Alastair Whitelaw, Scottish Green Party