Labour wins Hamilton by-election as Reform UK finish third in surprise victory for Keir Starmer

Interview with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar after the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election
GB News
Dimitris Kouimtsidis

By Dimitris Kouimtsidis


Published: 06/06/2025

- 06:00

Updated: 06/06/2025

- 09:08

Labour beat the SNP by around 600 votes

Scottish Labour has secured a significant victory in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election, with candidate Davy Russell defeating the SNP to claim the seat.

Russell won with 8,539 votes, which marked 31.57 per cent of the vote.


On the other hand, the SNP's candidate Katy Loudon received 7,957 votes - 29.35 per cent of the vote.

Meanwhile, Reform came in third with 7,088 votes - 26.15 per cent of the vote.

Davy Russell celebrates Hamilton by-election win with Scottish Labour leadership

Davy Russell celebrates Hamilton by-election win with Scottish Labour leadership

PA

Throughout the counting, the result was described as "too close to call", with the Scottish government's net zero and energy secretary Mairi McAllan telling the BBC that the SNP always believed the vote was "on a knife-edge" between themselves, Labour and Reform.

The election saw a turnout of 44.2 per cent, with 27,155 votes cast from an electorate of 61,485.

The result marks a notable shift in the South Lanarkshire seat, which had been held by the SNP since 2011.

Labour's success comes despite pre-election predictions.

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Davy Russell celebrates Hamilton by-election win with Scottish Labour leadership

Russell won with 8,539 votes, which marked 31.57 per cent of the vote

PA

Russell's victory came despite being dismissed by First Minister John Swinney during the campaign, who described the contest as a "straight contest" between the SNP and Reform UK.

The Labour candidate faced criticism for what opponents called an "invisible" campaign after he declined to participate in an STV debate.

His SNP rival Lambie accused Russell of being the "invisible man" and "running scared" during the campaign.

The First Minister's dismissal of Labour's chances proved misguided as Reform UK's anticipated breakthrough failed to materialise.

Davy Russell shaking hands with SNP's Katy Loudon

Davy Russell shaking hands with SNP's Katy Loudon after the results declaration

PA

Instead, voters in the region rejected the SNP in favour of Labour, defying the nationalist party's campaign predictions.

The seat had been held by Christina McKelvie, who represented the constituency for the SNP since 2011 until her death in March.

The by-election was triggered following McKelvie's death at Glasgow Royal Infirmary on March 27 at the age of 57.

McKelvie had announced in August last year that she would be taking medical leave for treatment of secondary breast cancer.

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