SNP to 'learn lessons' as Labour wins crucial by-election

Senior figures successful the SNP person vowed to larn lessons from Labour's astonishment triumph astatine the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election.

The party's Davy Russell won with 8,559 votes, a bulk of 602 implicit the second-placed SNP. The ballot followed the decease of SNP MSP Christina McKelvie, who had represented the constituency since 2011.

Scottish Constitution Secretary Angus Robertson said the SNP would request to "look precise closely" astatine the effect and "learn the lessons" for the Holyrood elections.

Reform UK finished 3rd with 7,088 votes, knocking the Conservatives into 4th spot with conscionable 1,621 votes.

The SNP had been tipped to clasp the seat, with immoderate suggesting that Labour mightiness adjacent beryllium pushed into 3rd spot down Reform.

Hailing his party's win, Scottish Labour person Anas Sarwar said his enactment had "proven the pollsters wrong".

Russell said helium would enactment the "message of the people" crossed astatine Holyrood.

He said: "For acold excessively agelong the radical of Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, successful information crossed Scotland, they've been listening to the politicians - but the politicians haven't delivered for them."

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer congratulated Russell, saying: "People successful Scotland person erstwhile again voted for change.

"Next twelvemonth determination is simply a accidental to turbo complaint transportation by putting Labour successful powerfulness connected some sides of the border."

The turnout was 44.2%, with much than 27,000 votes cast. It is simply a driblet connected the 2021 predetermination erstwhile turnout was 60%.

The effect means Scottish Labour has overturned a bulk of 4,582 won by Christina McKelvie successful 2021.

She died aged 57 successful March aft being diagnosed with secondary bosom cancer.

The by-election effect follows a hard play for Scottish Labour since it swept the SNP speech successful past summer's wide election.

The enactment had seen its enactment driblet successful the polls, with policies similar cuts to the wintertime substance allowance wide blamed for turning distant voters.

Ahead of the vote, First Minister John Swinney had claimed it was a "two-horse race" betwixt the SNP and Reform.

But his party's candidate, Katy Loudon, endured her 3rd predetermination decision successful the country - having mislaid retired to Labour's Michael Shanks astatine the 2024 wide predetermination and 2023 Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election.

After the result, Swinney said his enactment had "made advancement since the predetermination past twelvemonth but not enough". He posted connected X: "We inactive person enactment to bash and we volition bash it."

Davy Russell, who was raised and inactive lives successful the colony of Quarter successful the constituency, has worked for section authorities and antecedently served arsenic lawman lord lieutenant, representing the monarch astatine section events.

His triumph comes aft disapproval during the run for a deficiency of media appearances – with governmental opponents dismissing him arsenic "the invisible man".

Russell said constituents had been "let down" by the SNP.

He added that the effect sent a connection to Reform person Nigel Farage that his party's "poison" was not invited successful Scotland.

Reform has not won an predetermination successful Scotland, but the enactment has attracted important ballot shares successful section by-elections successful caller months, peculiarly successful the cardinal belt.

Deputy leader, Richard Tice, said the "remarkable" effect was a "massive boost" for his enactment going into the 2026 vote.

He besides rejected claims Reform had created a poisonous ambiance successful Scottish politics, insisting parties were "terrified" of Reform.

The Conservatives managed to debar a worst-case script of losing their deposit by winning much than 5% of the vote.

Scottish Conservative concern spokesperson Craig Hoy described it arsenic a "disappointing" night.

He said his enactment was determined to "restore spot with the Scottish people".

In the pb up to the ballot some Labour and the SNP accused Reform of racism implicit an online advert criticising Anas Sarwar.

The video, posted connected Facebook and Instagram, features clips from a code Sarwar made successful 2022.

Reform added substance claiming that Sarwar wanted to "prioritise the Pakistani community" - contempt the Glasgow MSP not saying that.

Farage defended the video and, during a run sojourn to Scotland, accused Sarwar of "sectarian politics".

The Scottish Labour person rubbished that assertion and called Farage a "pathetic, poisonous small man".

His party's past by-election triumph successful the country - successful the 2023 Rutherglen and Hamilton West ballot - proved to beryllium a springboard to occurrence successful the pursuing year's wide election.

Sarwar volition present beryllium hoping for a akin boost up of the Scottish Parliament election.