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BBC Scotland News
Scottish Labour has taken Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse from the SNP in a carefully fought by-election.
The vote adopted the loss of life of SNP MSP Christina McKelvie, who had represented the constituency since 2011.
Labour’s Davy Russell received with 8,559 votes, with a majority of 602 over the SNP.
Scottish Labour chief Anas Sarwar stated his birthday celebration had “proven the pollsters wrong”.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer congratulated Russell early on Friday morning, pronouncing: “People in Scotland have once again voted for change.
“Next 12 months there’s a probability to turbo fee supply through hanging Labour in energy on all sides of the border.”
Reform UK finished third on 7,088 votes, with the Tories in fourth on 1,621.
The turnout was 44.2%, with more than 27,000 votes cast. It is a drop on the 2021 election when turnout was 60%.
The result means Scottish Labour has overturned a majority of 4,582 won by McKelvie in 2021.
She died aged 57 in March after being diagnosed with secondary breast cancer.
Sarwar told BBC Scotland News that his party had “confirmed the pollsters unsuitable, the political commentators unsuitable and the bookies unsuitable”.
He said the result showed voters were “scunnered” with the SNP and that Reform were “now not on the races”.
PA MediaThe by-election result follows a difficult period for Scottish Labour since it swept the SNP aside in last summer’s general election.
The party had seen its support drop in the polls, with some suggesting Reform could beat Labour to second place in next year’s Holyrood elections.
Ahead of the vote, First Minister John Swinney had claimed that the by-election was a “two-horse race” between the SNP and Reform.
But his party’s candidate, Katy Loudon, endured her third election defeat in the area – having lost out to Labour’s Michael Shanks at the 2024 general election and 2023 Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election.
After the result, Swinney said his party had “made development because the election ultimate 12 months however now not sufficient”.
He posted on X: “We nonetheless have paintings to do and we will be able to do it.”
Scottish Constitution Secretary Angus Robertson said the SNP would need to “glance very carefully” at result and “be told the teachings” for the Holyrood elections.
Russell, who was raised and still lives in the village of Quarter in the constituency, has worked for local government and previously served as deputy lord lieutenant, representing the monarch at local events.
His victory comes despite criticism during the campaign for a lack of media appearances – most notably when he decided not to participate in a televised STV debate.
Speaking at the count, Russell said constituents had been “let down” by the SNP.
He added that the result sent a message to Reform leader Nigel Farage that his party’s “poison” was not welcome in Scotland.
‘Remarkable outcome’ for Reform
Reform has not won an election in Scotland, but the party has attracted significant vote shares in local by-elections in recent months, particularly in the central belt.
The party’s deputy leader, Richard Tice, said the “outstanding” result was a “huge spice up” for his party going into the 2026 vote.
He also rejected claims Reform had created a poisonous atmosphere in Scottish politics, insisting parties were “terrified” of Reform.
The Conservatives managed to avoid a worst-case scenario of losing their deposit by winning more than 5% of the vote.
Scottish Conservative finance spokesperson Craig Hoy described it as a “disappointing” night.
He said party was determined to “repair accept as true with with the Scottish folks”.
PA MediaIn the lead as much as the vote each Labour and the SNP accused Reform of racism over a web-based ad criticising Anas Sarwar.
The video, posted on Facebook and Instagram, features clips from a speech Sarwar made in 2022.
Reform added text claiming that Sarwar wanted to “prioritise the Pakistani neighborhood” – despite the Glasgow MSP not saying that.
Farage defended the video and during a campaign visit to Scotland and accused Sarwar of “sectarian politics”.
The Scottish Labour leader rubbished that claim and called Farage a “pathetic, toxic little guy”.
His party’s last by-election victory in the area – in the 2023 Rutherglen and Hamilton West vote – proved to be a springboard to success in the following year’s general election.
Sarwar will now be hoping for the same spice up forward of the Scottish Parliament election.
