Politicians making final push for votes ahead of Holyrood by-election
Scotland's political leaders will hit the campaign trail for the final time today ahead of a Holyrood by-election.
With voters in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse going to the polls on Thursday, June 5, parties are making their final push for votes, with both First Minister John Swinney and the Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar expected in the constituency on Wednesday.
It comes in the wake of a campaign which has been, for the most part, dominated by the rise in support for Reform UK – and a row over one of the party's online adverts.
The ad alleged that Mr Sarwar would 'prioritise' the Pakistani community – but it was quickly branded racist by Labour, who together with rivals in the SNP demanded it should be taken down.
SNP leader and Scottish First Minister John Swinney meanwhile urged voters in the constituency to back his party in a bid to 'stop Nigel Farage'.
His plea comes after an opinion poll in Scotland last month indicated Reform could come second in next year's Holyrood elections, ahead of both Labour and the Tories.
On the doorstep, it is clear the SNP is completely failing communities in Scotland. Only Scottish Labour can beat the SNP in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse.
🗳️Vote @DavyRussell4HLS on Thursday! pic.twitter.com/Py1iUms02m — Elaine Stewart MP (@ElaineStewartMP) June 3, 2025
Speaking ahead of the by-election, which is taking place after the death of Scottish Government minister Christina McKelvie, Mr Swinney said that the campaign 'has made it crystal clear that the SNP is the only party listening to people and taking action on what matters to them'.
The First Minister claimed: 'The Labour Party has lost its way and Keir Starmer's abject failure to deliver on his promises has led to the concerning rise of Nigel Farage across the UK – something that will worry many across Scotland.
Just two days to go until the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election on Thursday 5th June 🗳️ It was great to be out yesterday in Larkhall to support @ScotTories candidate Richard Nelson. pic.twitter.com/oxGk8p3e61 — Alex Burnett MSP (@AJABurnett) June 3, 2025
'Farage does not care about Scotland, and he also poses a threat to many of the things that we hold dear – our NHS, our parliament, and transformative policies like free tuition.'
Mr Swinney insisted: 'This by-election is an opportunity to reject the politics of Farage and make sure Scotland's interests are front and centre, and only a vote for the SNP will do that.'
However, Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie insisted: 'The Reform circus is nothing but a convenient distraction for the SNP – this by-election is a direct fight between Scottish Labour and the SNP.'
A lot of people are frustrated that they have been let down by the SNP, Conservatives and Labour but it's the Liberal Democrats who are offering real change, not Reform.
Last year's general election shows that we are winning again. If you want change, come with us. pic.twitter.com/in2U8Szl99 — Scottish Lib Dems (@scotlibdems) June 2, 2025
She said that Thursday's poll gives voters 'the chance to put this incompetent SNP government on notice and chart a new direction for the whole of Scotland'.
Ms Baillie stated: 'The SNP's woeful record is plain to see here – chaos in local NHS services, high streets in decline, and a generation of young people let down.
'The SNP government has failed this community and Katy Loudon has made it clear she will toe the party line no matter what – but Davy Russell will be a tireless champion for the community he calls home.'
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The Independent
11 minutes ago
- The Independent
There's much more to Zia Yusuf's dramatic resignation from Reform than a row over the burqa
Zia Yusuf 's departure had more to do with his failure to persuade donors to part with cash than a row over Reform's attitude to the burqa, insiders have told The Independent. But more than that, it was the now- former chairman 's inability to work with people and get on with them that was at the heart of his sudden announcement on Thursday, it has been claimed. It came after he described Reform's new MP Sarah Pochin as 'dumb' after she asked a question about banning the burqa during Prime Minister's Questions. But in reality, there were many more problems building. The Independent has contacted Mr Yusuf for his version of events and has not received a response. But his critics have not waited long to get their joy over his departure out and give their account of why he was ousted. 'The trouble is that while Zia was a very hard worker, he was a bit of a kn**,' said one associate of Nigel Farage. 'He just could not get on with people or work with people. But the much bigger problem was that donors did not want to hand over their money to the party after they spoke to him.' Mr Yusuf had, along with former Tory donor Nick Candy, been responsible for pitching to wealthy potential backers to fund Reform's push for power. 'There's a lot of money there to be released, but Zia wasn't getting it.' Even with the party's charge in the polls and a growing lead over Labour, with the Tories collapsing for various reasons, many donors were still sitting on their hands and not won over by the Yusuf/Candy charm offensive. Although in Mr Yusuf's case it was 'more of a lack of charm and pretty offensive', an insider claimed. For Mr Farage to fulfil his dream of getting to 10 Downing Street by 2029, reform needs cash to fund its push for power. But even the Tories - in complete crisis under Kemi Badenoch's leadership and with dwindling support - have been beating Reform with donations. But it was not just the failure to win the hearts and minds of millionaires and billionaires that was troubling senior figures in Reform. Several party figures have claimed that the 'writing was on the wall for Zia since March' when the fallout with Great Yarmouth MP Rupert Lowe almost derailed their local election campaign. Mr Lowe blames Farage equally for what happened and has confirmed that he will not be seeking to rejoin Reform, after he was ousted over claims he harassed two women and Mr Yusuf reported him to the police for allegedly threatening him with violence. Police later dropped the case, and no charges were brought against Mr Lowe. This had already been a problem with him previously throwing members out en masse in various new branches for minor infractions of party (or his) rules or not taking instructions from the centre. Supporters of Mr Yusuf, who included Nigel Farage until this week, at least publicly, pointed out he was there to professionalise the party and to ensure that the problem of rogue candidates with appalling views that had dogged Ukip and the Brexit Party did not continue to be a problem for Reform. It is also true that he had been subject to an incredible amount of abuse from former and current supporters of Reform, much of it Islamophobic. The final meltdown over Ms Pochin's question to Sir Keir Starmer on banning the burqa is thought to have been the last straw for Mr Yusuf, dealing with what is increasingly becoming an anti-Muslim party in its membership, if not leadership. Mr Lowe was not the only previously loyal foot soldier ousted. Some, such as ex-deputy leader Ben Habib and former London mayoral candidate Howard Cox, are highly unlikely to come back. Others. including former director of communications, Gawain Towler, will be welcomed back. 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32 minutes ago
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