Hamilton by-election: Farage to visit before vote
The vote is taking place following the death aged 57 of the local MSP and Scottish Government minister Christina McKelvie in March this year.
The First Minister said official figures show the government's decision to scrap peak rail fares - made under the government's Cost of Living Guarantee - could save rail commuters in the constituency hundreds of pounds every year.
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The main destination station for passengers travelling to or from Hamilton Central is Glasgow Central. Currently, an anytime day return between Glasgow Central and Hamilton Central is £9.20 and an off-peak day return is £6.00.
Glasgow Central is also the main destination station for passengers travelling to or from Larkhall. An anytime day return from there is £11.20 and an off peak return is £7.70.
Following the Scottish Government's decision to scrap peak rail fares for good from September, someone commuting five days every week from Hamilton Central to Glasgow Central will save more than £760 a year from September, the SNP said.
The party added that someone with the same commute from Larkhall station will save £910.
'The SNP is taking action to cut costs and ease financial pressures amid the cost of living crisis," said Mr Swinney.
'Scrapping peak rail fares is a critical part of my Cost of Living Guarantee that will save commuters hundreds of pounds.
"Alongside SNP policies like free tuition, free prescriptions and the most generous childcare offer in the UK we are supporting people when they need it most and putting more money in people's pockets.
'Labour meanwhile took away the winter fuel Payment from over 36,000 pensioners in South Lanarkshire, have allowed energy bills to rise by over £200 and cut £5 billion of support for disabled people.
'Unlike the Labour Party, the SNP is always on your side; taking action on what matters to people in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse and across Scotland.'
SNP by-election candidate Katy Loudon said: 'Too many households in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse have borne the brunt of the cost of living crisis, with the UK Labour government presiding over rampant inflation and soaring energy bills.
'In Scotland, the SNP is bringing costs down for people, with policies like free bus travel for 2.3 million people, bringing back the winter fuel payment and scrapping peak rail fares.
'The Labour Party has lost its way, but this SNP government is delivering on what matters to you.
'Vote SNP on 5 June for a cheaper commute and to put your priorities first.'
Labour came second in the seat in the 2021 election but have had a challenging campaign following a number of policy decisions by the government taken to improve public finances.
They include the decision to end universal winter fuel payments and cuts to welfare benefits.
Last week the Prime Minister said he would restore winter fuel payments to some pensioners. Details on who will receive the benefit are expected next month.
Reform UK have been campaigning in the constituency with the deputy leader Richard Tice telling The Herald on Sunday last week he believed his party could beat the SNP following momentum behind the party in the wake of the local elections in England.
Mr Farage campaign trip will be his first visit to Scotland since 2019 when he attended a campaign event for the Brexit Party.
During a visit to Edinburgh in 2013 he had to be locked in a pub on the Royal Mile by police for his own protection and rescued by a riot van after a protest by independence supporters.
Reform UK took 7% of the Scottish vote in last year's general election, while recent polling suggests increasing support among the electorate - most notably at the potential expense of the Conservatives and Labour.
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