Relief for Starmer in Hamilton, but Reform has arrived as a force in Scotland
When local businessman Davy Russell was announced as the new Scottish Parliament member for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse in the early hours of the morning, the look of relief on the faces of Labour members at the count was palpable. And they were entitled to revel in what was a shock result. The party had defied the polls and the bookmaker odds to win a seat which in the last Holyrood election in 2021 was easily held by the late SNP MSP Christina McKelvie. Many had the SNP as clear favourites to win the seat again, with the new kid on the block Reform UK as second favourites and Labour expected to come third.Davy Russell (centre, right) celebrates with Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar (centre) and deputy leader Jackie Baillie (left, centre) More