3 days ago
Hamilton by-election result could set-off political earthquake ahead of Holyrood poll
In a close and frequently bitter by-election campaign, the Record has led the way in detailing the twists and turns of a race that could have national repercussions.
By-election campaigns can often appear baffling to those living outwith the constituency.
The focus on hyper-local issues and numerous photo calls held in unfamiliar high streets can leave the rest of the country feeling detached from events on the ground.
But the race to become the next MSP for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse hasn't been like that at all.
The Record has led the way in revealing the twists and turns of a by-election campaign that's likely to have national repercussions. Where Hamilton leads, the rest of the country may soon follow.
With under a year to go until the next Scottish Parliament election, the result on June 5 will give our clearest indication yet on the state of the parties vying for power at Holyrood.
We first told how Labour was hoping to steal a march on its rivals by selecting a candidate with strong connections to the local area in South Lanarkshire.
Davy Russell said he couldn't walk down a Hamilton street without 20 people stopping him to wish his campaign well.
But Labour's decision not to allow him to appear on live TV or radio made it easy for other parties to claim Russell was dodging scrutiny.
We first reported how an STV head-to-head debate involving by-election candidates was unlikely to feature the man standing for Labour.
It's an issue that's dogged Anas Sarwar's party since.
The SNP quickly established itself as the bookies' favourite to win when voters head to the polls on June 5.
Katy Loudon, the Nats' candidate, is an experienced local councillor and previously stood at the 2023 Rutherglen by-election which saw Labour win in a landslide.
The political landscape has shifted since then and, unlike her Labour rival, she is happy to appear on TV and radio.
The big talking point of an increasingly bitter campaign has been Reform UK. And one social media advert in particular.
As we first reported, Nigel Farage's party paid £8,000 for a Facebook ad claiming Sarwar would "prioritise" Scots from south Asian backgrounds. It was based on a speech Anas gave back in 2022 encouraging more Scots-Asians to get involved in politics. He never said the word "prioritise".
Labour and the SNP both branded it racist. But Farage, when questioned about it, double downed and refused to apologise.
John Swinney has warned only his party can stop Reform from securing an unlikely win in Hamilton - a pitch he made directly to Labour voters in an open letter published by the Record last week.
Sarwar today says that such a claim is just "spin and nonsense" from the SNP leader.
Labour insiders believe that local support for their candidate has been underestimated, with Russell receiving a warm welcome on the doorsteps.
In a race as close as this, it's difficult to tell who exactly is out in front. Ultimately, it's for voters to decide.
And in the early hours of Friday morning, Scotland could be waking up to a minor political earthquake.
