Scottish Labour Wins Hamilton By-Election Amid SNP Campaign Criticism

Scottish Labour's unexpected win in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election has sparked significant criticism of First Minister John Swinney and the SNP's campaign tactics. Swinney characterized the contest as a 'two-horse race' between the SNP and Reform UK, a narrative which critics, including Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar and former SNP MP Tommy Sheppard, argue backfired by elevating Reform UK and alienating Labour voters. Sarwar described Swinney's approach as 'dishonest,' 'shameful,' and 'sinister,' accusing him of pushing voters towards Reform UK to split the opposition and maintain SNP dominance by default. Labour’s Davy Russell won the seat with a narrow majority, while Reform UK came in a close third, reflecting a tight three-way race despite Swinney’s framing. Critics assert the SNP campaign lacked positive messaging and failed to address local issues, instead focusing on opposing Reform UK, which ultimately drove voters away. The result has led to calls for scrutiny of the SNP's campaign strategy ahead of next year's Scottish Parliament election, with warnings against repeating such tactics.