Labour triumphs in Scottish by-election after fierce campaign
In a surprising turn of events, the Labour Party led by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer secured a notable win in a Scottish parliamentary by-election on Friday. The contest, marked by intense and often bitter campaigning, took place in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse constituency previously held by the Scottish National Party (SNP) following the death of a former minister.
The result comes as a welcome boost for Starmer, whose party has recently faced declining support since its landslide victory in the general election last year. Public dissatisfaction had grown due to increased taxes, welfare cuts, and controversies over campaign donations.
The by-election was overshadowed by debates on race after Reform UK, under the leadership of Nigel Farage, repeatedly highlighted the Pakistani heritage of Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar. This rhetoric drew strong criticism from rival parties.
Labour’s candidate, Davy Russell, emerged victorious with 8,559 votes, narrowly defeating the SNP, which garnered 7,957 votes. Reform UK came in third with 7,088 votes. This result defied expectations, as betting odds had predicted the SNP would win comfortably, with Labour in third place.
Speaking after his win, Russell said the result sent a clear message to Farage and his supporters, rejecting divisive politics and affirming that Reform’s ideology does not represent Scotland.
Despite Labour’s win, Reform’s rising popularity in both Scotland and England ahead of next year’s Scottish parliament elections highlights a shift in political dynamics. The party’s anti-immigration, anti-European Union, and low-tax stance typically linked with English nationalism has surprisingly gained traction in Scotland.
Farage’s recent visit to Scotland came shortly after backlash over a misleading online video by Reform UK, falsely alleging that Sarwar pledged to "prioritise" the Pakistani community.
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