On June 5, 2025, Scottish Labour secured a surprise victory in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election, overturning a long-held Scottish National Party (SNP) seat. Triggered by the death of SNP MSP Christina McKelvie in March 2025, the election saw Davy Russell win with 8,559 votes (31.6%), defeating SNP’s Katy Loudon (7,957 votes, 29.4%) by a 602-vote majority. Reform UK took third with 7,088 votes (26.1%), pushing the Conservatives to fourth with 1,621 votes (6%). Here’s a breakdown of the results and their significance.
Key Results and Reactions
- Turnout: 44.2% (27,155 votes from 61,485 electors), down from 60.7% in 2021.
- Other Candidates: Scottish Greens (702 votes, 2.6%), Liberal Democrats (533 votes, 2%), UKIP (50 votes), and others.
- Labour’s Triumph: Russell, a local from Quarter village, condemned the SNP’s record, saying, “Politicians haven’t delivered for Hamilton.” Anas Sarwar, Scottish Labour leader, celebrated proving “pollsters wrong,” eyeing a 2026 Holyrood boost. Keir Starmer hailed it as a vote for “change.”
- SNP’s Setback: Despite John Swinney framing it as a “two-horse race” with Reform, the SNP lost a seat held since 2011. Swinney admitted on X, “We’ve made progress, but not enough.” Angus Robertson vowed to “learn lessons.”
- Reform’s Rise: Richard Tice called the third-place finish “seismic,” with Nigel Farage noting a “huge advance” on X. Reform’s 26% vote share, their best in a Scottish parliamentary election, signals growing influence.
Campaign Controversies
The campaign was heated, with Labour and SNP accusing Reform of racism over an ad falsely claiming Sarwar prioritized the Pakistani community. Sarwar called Farage a “poisonous little man,” while Farage accused him of “sectarian politics.” Russell’s victory speech rejected Reform’s “poison,” resonating with voters.
Why It Matters
This by-election, overturning a 4,582-vote SNP majority from 2021, reflects voter frustration with the SNP’s 18-year rule and Labour’s Westminster policies, like winter fuel cuts. Reform’s strong showing suggests a shifting political landscape, with X posts like @CllrRossLambie’s claiming a “three-horse race” for 2026. With only 11 months until the Holyrood elections, Labour’s win boosts morale, while the SNP faces pressure to regroup.
