1.2 – Political parties
1.3 – Electoral systems
Lab’s victory in the Hamilton, Larkhall & Stonehouse by-election as a surprise to many and will prompt significant reflection among several parties ahead of next year Parliament election. Labour’s D Russell secured 8,559 votes (31.6%), narrowly defeating the SNP’s Katy Loudon with 7,957 votes (29.4%) and Ross Lambie of Reform UK with 7,088 votes (26.1%). The outcome, with less than one-third of the vote, highlights the limitations of the FPTP system in handling races with multiple parties.
While Labour pleased with their gain from the SNP, the slim margin of victory may concern their Scottish leader, Anas Sarwar, especially as polls indicate the SNP reg a lead over Labour, partly due with Labour’s in Westminster. Conversely, although the SNP will disappointed by the loss, they remain competitive despite holding office in Holyrood since 2007.
Reform UK’s unexpectedly strong performance, despite greater attention on Welsh politics, suggests potential gains through the list system if this support continues next year. Meanwhile, the Conservatives face significant concerns, having garnered only 1,621 votes (6%), a stark from the 17.5% achieved in the same seat in 2021.