**Labour Clinches Unexpected Victory in Scottish By-election as Reform UK Faces Backlash**
In an unexpected turn of events, the Labour Party has claimed victory in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election, defying prevailing national polls and reshaping the political landscape in Scotland. The result, announced late on Thursday night, delivered a significant boost to Scottish Labour, with its candidate Davy Russell emerging victorious in a closely contested race.
Russell secured 8,559 votes, translating to 31.6 per cent of the total, narrowly edging out the Scottish National Party’s Katy Loudon, who finished with 7,957 votes (29.4 per cent). Reform UK, represented by Ross Lambie, claimed third place with 7,088 votes (26.1 per cent), while the Conservative Party once again struggled in Scotland, managing just 1,621 votes for Richard Nelson—barely 6 percent of the share. The Scottish Greens and Liberal Democrats finished further behind, with 695 and 533 votes, respectively.
The by-election, called following a local retirement, had been widely predicted to be a two-horse race. However, the strong performance by both Labour and Reform UK, coupled with the SNP’s slipping dominance, led many analysts to suggest that Scottish politics is rapidly evolving into a genuine three-party contest. This development could have broad implications, particularly with the Holyrood elections less than a year away.
Davy Russell, taking to the stage after his declaration, wasted no time in criticising Reform UK and its figurehead, Nigel Farage. In a pointed victory speech, Russell addressed local concerns about populist politics and division. “The people of this community have sent a message to Farage and his mob tonight—the poison of Reform isn’t us, it isn’t Scotland, and we don’t want your division here,” he declared, drawing applause from his supporters.
Russell’s comments reflect broader tensions in Scottish politics, especially as Farage and Reform UK attempt to build on their growing profile north of the border. Despite placing third, Reform’s deputy leader Richard Tice appeared upbeat, describing the result as a “massive boost” for his party. Tice told reporters, “We’re thrilled to bits, absolutely delighted. Nobody predicted that we’d be just a few hundred votes away from the SNP. This sets us up with excitement and momentum as we head into the next 11 months before the Holyrood elections.”
Nonetheless, the outcome was far from the resounding breakthrough Reform had hoped for. While their performance exceeded expectations, the reaction from Labour, and much of the local electorate, has underlined significant resistance to the party’s presence in the area. Russell’s victory, meanwhile, may serve as a springboard for Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, who aspires to unseat the SNP and become First Minister in next year’s critical government election.
The Scottish Conservatives, once the official opposition at Holyrood, endured another bruising night in Scottish politics, a signal of the ongoing realignment among voters. Their candidate, Nelson, lagged far behind the front-runners—an outcome likely to prompt introspection within the party’s Scottish wing.
The SNP’s Katy Loudon, in her concession, was dignified yet clearly disappointed. First Minister John Swinney praised Loudon’s energetic campaign, noting that the margin had narrowed considerably since the last Labour landslide in the area. Swinney reflected, “We came much closer tonight, but the people of Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse have made it clear that we still have work to do. Over the coming days, we’ll carefully consider the results.”
Looking ahead, all parties involved acknowledge that this by-election could prove a pivotal moment. Scottish Labour now finds itself reinvigorated, while both the SNP and Reform UK are recalibrating strategies. As the nation moves towards the Holyrood elections, the contest to shape Scotland’s future has rarely looked more competitive or unpredictable.
Political observers will now watch closely to see how each party responds to these shifting fortunes, with Labour hoping to capture further momentum and Reform seeking to build its fledgling support. The SNP, for its part, must address why its message failed to secure victory on this occasion. What remains certain is that Scotland’s political landscape is undergoing rapid and significant change.