In a surprise win, Britain’s Labour Party secured a narrow victory in a high-stakes Scottish by-election for the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse seat, defeating the Scottish National Party (SNP) in one of the country’s most divisive campaigns in recent memory.
Labour’s Davy Russell won 8,559 votes, narrowly beating the SNP’s 7,957, with Nigel Farage’s Reform UK placing third with 7,088 votes. The result defied expectations, as betting markets had predicted an SNP win with Labour pushed to third. The seat became vacant following the death of a former government minister.
The by-election saw race take center stage after Reform UK repeatedly referenced the ethnicity of Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, who is of Pakistani descent. The controversy sparked widespread condemnation, with Labour labeling the party’s campaign “blatantly racist” and SNP leader John Swinney urging voters to reject what he called Reform’s “gutter politics.” Farage hit back, accusing Sarwar of bringing sectarianism into Scottish discourse.
This win is a critical morale boost for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, as Labour has faced a drop in public support since its general election landslide last year, amid backlash over tax hikes, benefit cuts, and donation scandals.
Russell, celebrating the win, said the result "sent a message to Farage and his mob,” rejecting divisive rhetoric. Despite the defeat, Reform UK’s strong showing highlights its growing influence in Scotland—an unexpected development given its English nationalist roots and anti-immigration stance.
With Scottish parliamentary elections looming next year, this by-election marks a significant political shift and sets the stage for more fierce battles in the months ahead.