Reform candidate: 'It’s just us versus the SNP'

Reform UK’s candidate in the upcoming Hamilton, Larkhall, and Stonehouse by-election has said “it’s really just us versus the SNP”.

With just a week to go, candidates from SNP, Scottish Labour, Tories, and Reform are battling it out for votes.

First Minister John Swinney has also called the election a “straight contest” between the SNP and Reform.

Speaking to STV News, Reform’s Ross Lambie accused Scottish Labour of running a “car crash campaign” in Hamilton with a candidate “that won’t come to hustings or debates”.

“So it’s really just us versus the SNP and it’s setting a really exciting set up for Holyrood elections next year,” he said.

Lambie again defended the Reform UK attack ad against Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar.

The Scottish Labour leader accused the social media advert of “blatant racism”, but the party – including Lambie – deny that they’re running a racist campaign.

“There’s nothing misleading about publishing Anas Sarwar’s own words,” Lambie told STV News.

“On the fifth of June in Hamilton people can make their judgment.”

Speaking about his platform, Lambie said he wants to bring “a bit of common sense” to Holyrood.

“Hamilton definitely needs Reform because the people who live here feel completely left out and abandoned by the political establishment in Scotland, and you can see why,” he said.

“There’s no investment in this town. People are watching the politicians on TV and they’re spending what little public money we have on things like net-zero which is not delivering any benefits to the people in this town.”

Full list of candidates

Follow STV News on WhatsApp

Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country