Scotland and Wales election results LIVE: Labour bracing for heavy losses as polls close

Labour is bracing for heavy losses in Scotland and Wales as the Scottish National Party (SNP) 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 be 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 they have been the largest party since 2007.

The fate of Reform UK Scotland remains yet to be seen, but Lord Malcolm 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.

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?

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.