PM congratulates Davy Russell but Reform also performed strongly, gaining third place with 26% of the vote
Scottish Labour win pivotal Holyrood byelection
Prof Sir John Curtice, the leading elections expert, told the BBC this morning that, although many people expected the SNP to win the byelection in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, if they had had been following the evidence closely, they would have realised it was always neck and neck. He said the SNP won the seat quite easily in 2021. But he said if you track how Labour and SNP support has changed nationally since then, and adjust the 2021 Hamilton result accordingly, you would have both parties on 31% in the constituency. He went on:
In other words, this contest always looked likely to be a very close contest. That’s what it’s proven to be.
In the end, Labour have done a little bit better than 31%, they’ve got 32%, and the SNP a little worse, 29%.
