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A Scottish Labour win in the Hamilton by-election has handed the prime minister a much needed boost, but the result reveals that Reform is a growing threat in parts of the UK Nigel Farage has never appealed to before, writes David Maddox

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W

hen local businessman Davy Russell was announced as the new Scottish Parliament member for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse in the early hours of the morning, the look of relief on the faces of Labour members at the count was palpable. And they were entitled to revel in what was a shock result.