The Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election, a significant contest in the Scottish political landscape, has concluded with Scottish Labour's Davy Russell securing victory. The by-election was necessitated by the sad passing of SNP MSP Christina McKelvie in March at the age of 57, following medical leave for secondary breast cancer. The polls closed with a total of 27,155 ballot papers verified from an eligible electorate of 61,485, marking a turnout of 44.2%. This contest, occurring less than a year before the 2026 Scottish parliament election, was widely seen as a potential indicator of the evolving political sentiment north of the border.

Ten candidates contested the Holyrood seat. The SNP, represented by Katy Loudon, aimed to retain the seat amidst pressures from previous losses to Labour in the UK general election. Significant attention was also on Reform UK's candidate, Ross Lambie, and whether the party could achieve a "tartan bounce" following recent successes in English local elections. Dame Jackie Baillie, deputy leader of Scottish Labour, described the contest as a "three-way fight" and "too close to call" prior to the results, highlighting voter concerns about the SNP's 18-year governance, particularly regarding the NHS and education. Voters expressed a desire for the UK Labour government to act faster, though acknowledging its relatively short time in office. Keir Starmer's commitment to reinstating the winter fuel allowance was noted as a positive step in addressing voter concerns.

The campaign leading up to the by-election was notably heated. Reform UK faced accusations of running a "racist" ad against Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage accusing Sarwar of "sectarian politics." In response, Sarwar criticized Farage for a "campaign of dirt and smear." First Minister John Swinney characterized the election as a "two-horse race" between the SNP and Reform UK, urging voters to reject Farage's "gutter politics." Other candidates also voiced voter frustrations. Scottish Liberal Democrats candidate Aisha Mir reported that constituents were concerned about the cost of living, the health service, and council budget cuts, feeling "fed up of broken promises." Scottish Socialist Party candidate Collette Bradley noted widespread voter disillusionment and a lack of trust in mainstream politicians, highlighting her party's pledge for MSPs to live on an average worker's wage.

The results, announced in the early hours of Friday, saw Davy Russell of Scottish Labour emerge victorious with 8,559 votes. Katy Loudon for the SNP secured second place with 7,957 votes, while Ross Lambie for Reform UK came in a close third with 7,088 votes. The other candidates received the following votes: Richard Nelson (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party) - 1,621 votes; Ann McGuinness (Scottish Green Party) - 695 votes; Aisha Mir (Scottish Liberal Democrats) - 533 votes; Collette Bradley (Scottish Socialist Party) - 278 votes; Andy Brady (Scottish Family Party) - 219 votes; Marc Wilkinson (Independent) - 109 votes; and Janice MacKay (UK Independence Party) - 50 votes.

In his victory speech, new MSP Davy Russell stated he was "proud" to be elected and pledged to put the community first. He asserted that constituents had voted to "take a new direction" and criticized the SNP for having "broken our NHS, wasted our money." Russell also sent a message to Reform UK, stating, "The poison of Reform isn't us, it isn't Scotland, and we don't want your division here." He positioned Scottish Labour as ready to "fix" the NHS and end the SNP's alleged financial mismanagement, declaring, "The road to a new direction for Scotland in 2026 - with Anas Sarwar as first minister and a Scottish Labour government - begins right here."

First Minister John Swinney congratulated Mr. Russell and acknowledged that while the SNP had made progress since the previous year's election, "not enough. We still have work to do and we will do it." Reform UK's deputy leader, Richard Tice, viewed their third-place finish as a "massive boost" and a "fantastic result," setting them up with "excitement and momentum" for the Holyrood elections. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar remarked, "I think people need to change the script, because we've proven the pollsters wrong... We've proven John Swinney wrong and so many others wrong too."

The by-election result is seen as a significant moment. For Labour, the win is a relief and bolsters their ambitions of forming the next Scottish government, especially as it tested public reaction to recent policy U-turns and the appeal of Nigel Farage's politics in Scotland. The prime minister is likely relieved by this victory over the SNP and Reform UK, particularly after a period where Labour had been seen as grappling with challenging polling. For the SNP, despite a recent period of relative stability after internal issues and previous election setbacks, this result indicates ongoing challenges in retaining voter support. Reform UK's strong showing, finishing just behind the SNP, establishes them as a notable force in Scottish politics, potentially reshaping the landscape and impacting the Conservatives, even if forming an official opposition at Holyrood remains a tall order. The unpredictable nature of this contest suggests a dynamic and potentially volatile run-up to the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections.