Labour Wins Hamilton By-Election as Reform Gains Significant Vote Share in Scotland

The Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election marked a significant breakthrough for Reform UK in Scottish politics, with the party securing a strong third place and 26% of the vote, a dramatic increase from just 58 votes in 2021. Labour narrowly won the seat, overcoming the Scottish National Party (SNP), which suffered a considerable loss in support amid ongoing fallout from allegations against former SNP leadership. Reform UK’s surge was widely seen as a challenge to the traditional political landscape in Scotland, notably weakening the Conservatives who fell to fourth place with only 6% of the vote. Nigel Farage and Reform deputy leader Richard Tice hailed the results as a seismic shift, signaling that Reform is now a serious contender in the Scottish Parliament and potentially across the UK. The by-election demonstrated that Scottish politics is evolving into a three-way race among Labour, SNP, and Reform UK, with immigration concerns and anti-establishment sentiment playing key roles. The SNP faces strategic questions ahead of the 2026 elections, while Labour’s victory provides a boost to Keir Starmer’s efforts despite the narrow margin and vote share declines.