Labour win Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election in major boost to Keir Starmer

Keir Starmer hailed a ‘seismic result’ his party in a by-election triggered by the recall of shamed MP Margaret Ferrier, with a 20.4% swing from the SNP to Labour

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar with candidate Michael Shanks arriving at the count for the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election (

Image: PA)

Labour has stormed to victory in a key by-election in Scotland in a major result for Keir Starmer.

Labour’s Michael Shanks seized the seat of Rutherglen and Hamilton West from the SNP by 17,845 votes to 8,399, a majority of 9,446. The Tory candidate Thomas Kerr lost his deposit, coming third with just 1,192 votes.

Keir Starmer said it was a “seismic result” for Labour, with a 20.4% swing from the SNP setting the party on course to achieve its target of at least 20 seats in Scotland at the general election. It is the first time Labour has won a Scottish by-election since 1964.

The result comes as a blow to the embattled SNP and ramps up the pressure on First Minister Humza Yousaf, who has seen his party slump in the polls in the wake of the ongoing police investigation in SNP finances.

Elections supremo Professor John Curtice told the BBC that if the result was replicated at a general election, Labour would win 42 of the 59 Westminster seats in Scotland. “We would be back to the politics of Scotland before the 2014 independence referendum,” he said.

Scottish Labour candidate Michael Shanks celebrates winning the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election (

Image:

Getty Images)

The result will embolden Labour as the party heads into its annual conference this weekend. Strategists see reviving the party’s fortunes north of the border as critical to their path to power.

Mr Starmer said: “This is a seismic result. People in Rutherglen and Hamilton West have sent a clear message – it is time for change. And it is clear they believe that this changed Labour Party can deliver it.

“I have always said that winning back the trust of people in Scotland is essential. Tonight’s victory is the culmination of three and a half years of hard work and humility on that journey. I am grateful to everyone who has put their faith in us today – we will work every day to repay it.”

The turnout was 37.19%, with a total of 30,531 votes cast. That is significantly down from 66.48% at the 2019 general election, when 53,794 valid votes were cast.

In his victory speech, Mr Shanks said the result showed “there is nowhere Labour can’t win”. The new MP, a local teacher and charity worker, said it was the “honour of his life” to be elected.

The by-election was triggered after shamed MP Margaret Ferrier was ousted by her constituents. The ex-SNP MP was handed a 30-day Commons suspension for breaching Covid rules by travelling between London and Glasgow after testing positive for the virus.

Ms Ferrier, who was kicked out of the SNP, stubbornly refused to step down but nearly 12,000 of her constituents backed a recall petition to force her out, triggering a by-election.

The seat, to the south east of Glasgow, was solidly Labour until Ms Ferrier overturned a 21,000-strong majority in 2015 when the SNP won 56 out of 59 Scottish seats. Labour won it back in 2017 by just 265 votes but lost it again to Ms Ferrier in 2019. However she only secured a majority of 5,230, making it one of the SNP’s most vulnerable seats.

SNP leader Mr Yousaf said: “A disappointing night for the SNP. I want to thank our exceptional candidate Katy Loudon and our activists for their incredible efforts. Let me also congratulate Michael Shanks on being elected. Circumstances of this by-election were always very difficult for us.

“Collapse in the Tory vote, which went straight to Labour, also a significant factor. We lost this seat in 2017, and like 2019 we can win this seat back. However, we will reflect on what we have to do to regain the trust of the people of Rutherglen & Hamilton West.”

A Labour source said activists had received a warm reception on the doorstep, with voters saying they were “totally fed up with the SNP”. “Tough to replicate across the whole of Scotland but it’ll give us a good belief and send a real message to both governing parties,” the source said.

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