Voters react as Labour wins Hamilton by-election

New MSP Davy Russell attributed his victory to old fashioned chapping on doors.

A surprise victory in what had been billed as a two horse race between the SNP and Nigel Farage’s Reform, ended with a surprise win for Scottish Labour.

Their candidate Davy Russell, dubbed the invisible man by his rivals, emerged victorious – leaving the SNP trailing in second place, and Reform in third.

Voters went to the polls in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election after the death of the SNP MSP Christina McKelvie earlier this year.

Russell, who attributed his victory to old fashioned chapping on doors, polled just over 8,500. He came 602 votes ahead of the SNP.

Reform’s Ross Lambie polled over 7,000.

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