Upset! Scottish Labour Wins By-Election in Stunning Victory

Scottish Labour's Surprise By-Election Win Shakes Up Scottish Politics In a stunning upset, Scottish Labour candidate Davy Russell secured a victory in the Hamilton, Larkhall, and Stonehouse by-election on June 6th, 2025. Russell's win, with 8,559 votes, narrowly edged out the SNP's candidate, who received 7,957 votes. Reform UK also showed surprising strength, garnering 7,088 votes. This result defied pre-election polls and expectations, which had favored the SNP. Sky News' Scotland correspondent, Connor Gillies, described the outcome as "a shock." He attributed Labour's success to a combination of factors, including the SNP's recent controversies and the rise of Reform UK. Gillies stated, "This is a huge relief for the Labour party, who've been bogged down in controversy." Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, expressed his delight, emphasizing the result's significance. He commented on the need to reflect on the win and the conversations held during the campaign. Meanwhile, Richard Tice, Deputy Leader of Reform UK, acknowledged Labour's victory, highlighting the close margin and the unexpected nature of the outcome. He noted, "No one had a clue what was going to happen." The by-election results are likely to have significant implications for the upcoming Scottish Parliament elections. The strong showing by Reform UK also raises questions about the shifting political landscape in Scotland. The unexpected victory for Labour offers a glimmer of hope for the party, which had been struggling in recent years.