Davy Russell secures key Holyrood seat as SNP admits need for reflection after unexpected defeat
In a dramatic upset that has sent shockwaves through Scottish politics, Labour has clinched victory in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election, overturning a previously secure Scottish National Party (SNP) seat. The win, confirmed late on Thursday night, saw Labour’s Davy Russell secure 8,559 votes—602 more than the SNP candidate Katy Loudon—marking a symbolic and strategic win for the resurgent Scottish Labour Party.
The by-election was triggered by the death of SNP MSP Christina McKelvie, who had represented the seat since 2011 and held a 4,582-vote majority in 2021. Voter turnout stood at 44.2%, notably lower than the 60% recorded during the last Scottish Parliament election.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar hailed the result as a sign that voters are once again turning to Labour as a credible force in Scotland. “We have proven the pollsters wrong,” he said, standing alongside Russell, who vowed to be a voice for his constituents at Holyrood. “For far too long, the people of Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse—and indeed across Scotland—have been listening to the politicians, but the politicians haven’t delivered for them,” Russell told supporters.
The SNP, which had been widely expected to retain the seat, was left facing uncomfortable questions. Not only did Labour take the seat, but Reform UK finished third with 7,088 votes—leapfrogging the Conservatives, who slumped to fourth place with just 1,621 votes. The result marks the third successive defeat for SNP candidate Katy Loudon in the area, following her previous losses in the 2023 Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election and the 2024 general election.
SNP Constitution Secretary Angus Robertson acknowledged the need for introspection. “We will need to look very closely at this result and learn the lessons for the Holyrood elections,” he said, echoing wider concerns about the party’s recent electoral strategy. First Minister John Swinney, who had framed the contest as a “two-horse race” between the SNP and Reform UK, admitted the result was a disappointment. “We’ve made progress since last year’s election, but not enough,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter). “We still have work to do—and we will do it.”
The by-election came at a sensitive time for Scottish Labour. Despite their sweeping gains against the SNP during last year’s general election, the party’s popularity has since wavered, partly due to controversial UK-wide policies like the proposed cuts to the winter fuel allowance. Thursday’s win will therefore be seen as a much-needed boost, confirming the party’s resilience and its capacity to challenge the SNP in key constituencies.
The result also injects fresh momentum into Labour’s UK-wide narrative of renewal. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was quick to capitalise on the win, saying, “People in Scotland have once again voted for change. Next year, there is a chance to turbo-charge delivery by putting Labour in power on both sides of the border.”
Meanwhile, Reform UK’s strong third-place showing underscores growing voter disaffection with the Conservatives in Scotland, where the party continues to flounder. The outcome adds pressure on the Tories to reassess their Scottish strategy ahead of both the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections and the next general election.
Christina McKelvie, the late MSP whose passing triggered the by-election, was remembered by both sides during the night’s proceedings. A prominent figure in Scottish politics, McKelvie died in March at the age of 57 after being diagnosed with secondary breast cancer.
