Davy Russell wins Hamilton, Larkhall & Stonehouse by-election
The Labour candidate triumphed in his home constituency with a 602 majority over the SNP.
Davy Russell is the new MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall & Stonehouse after triumphing in the constituency's hotly-contested by-election.
The Labour candidate won the seat previously held by the SNP for the past 14 years by taking 8559 votes – a majority of 602 – and will now take his seat at Holyrood next week.
SNP candidate Katy Loudon was second with 7957 votes and Ross Lambie of Reform came third with 7088.
The result was declared at South Lanarkshire Council's headquarters in Hamilton just after 1.30am on Friday and resulted in victory for Mr Russell's highly-localised campaign, in which he emphasised his credentials as a constituency resident and focused almost exclusively on doorstep canvassing at the expense of broadcast interviews and set-piece campaign events.
He was congratulated at the count by Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar and deputy Dame Jackie Baillie, as well as elected members including new Holyrood colleague Monica Lennon and South Lanarkshire Council leader Joe Fagan.
Mr Russell praised his 'sensational' Labour campaign team and said at the declaration: 'I am so proud to be elected as member of the Scottish Parliament for my home and my community.
'I said in this campaign that I would put our community first and I will work every single day to do that .
'Hamilton, Larkhall & Stonehouse has voted tonight to take a new direction with Scottish Labour. The people here and right across Scotland all feel we've been let down by the SNP – they've broken our NHS, wasted our money and after nearly two decades, they don't deserve another chance.
'This has also sent a message to Farage and his mob tonight – the poison of Reform isn't us and isn't Scotland.'
With the by-election coming less than a year before the Holyrood general election, new MSP Mr Russell added: 'The road to a new direction for Scotland in 2026, with Anas Sarwar as First Minister and a Scottish Labour government, begins right here.'
The count in Hamilton was also attended by deputy Reform leader Richard Tice, making his third visit of the campaign to the constituency.
Quarter resident Mr Russell is now due to be sworn in at Holyrood next week and said he is 'elated' by his win in his home seat.
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