HAMILTON, Scotland — It’s polling day in the constituency of Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse — and while the morning air is calm, the stakes feel anything but routine.
Following the death of veteran SNP MSP Christina McKelvie earlier this year, voters are now choosing who will carry the baton into what remains of this Parliament term. The by-election — the first of its kind in Scotland in more than five years — has become a local event with national resonance.
Ballot boxes opened at 7 a.m. and will close by 10 p.m., with results expected in the small hours of Friday morning.
A vacant seat, a legacy, and a political test
Christina McKelvie’s death in March left more than a vacancy — it left a legacy. First elected in 2011 when the constituency was formed, McKelvie was a powerful presence within both the SNP and her community. Her later role as minister for drugs and alcohol came at a time of escalating concern over Scotland’s overdose crisis.
She was 57.
The by-election now tests whether the SNP’s grip on this central belt seat holds, or whether Labour’s recent momentum — especially across Westminster polling — translates into Holyrood gains.
Ten candidates, but two parties dominate attention
Here’s the full list of contenders:
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Collette Bradley – Scottish Socialist Party
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Andy Brady – Scottish Family Party
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Ross Lambie – Reform UK
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Katy Loudon – Scottish National Party
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Janice Mackay – UK Independence Party
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Ann McGuinness – Scottish Green Party
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Aisha Mir – Scottish Liberal Democrats
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Richard Nelson – Scottish Conservative
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Davy Russell – Scottish Labour
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Marc Wilkinson – Independent
While 10 names appear on the ballot, most eyes are on Katy Loudon, the SNP’s candidate, and Davy Russell, standing for Scottish Labour.
Loudon, a local councillor, enters the race with the formidable weight of incumbency behind her — though that incumbency is less secure than it once was. Labour’s Davy Russell, a former teacher and trade unionist, has campaigned aggressively on cost-of-living issues, NHS pressures, and what his team describes as “neglected public services.”
Why this seat matters
Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse isn’t just any seat. It’s a symbolic battleground — lying on the edge of Glasgow’s political gravitational pull, yet with a character of its own. Urban Hamilton merges into the post-industrial town of Larkhall and the rural edge of Stonehouse.
This is where Scottish Labour’s former heartlands meet the post-2014 independence surge. It has voted SNP since 2011, but before that, Labour ruled for decades.
If Labour wins tonight, expect national headlines. If the SNP holds on — even narrowly — it may stop the bleeding that’s begun to define the party’s post-Sturgeon era.
Reform UK and the silent disruptors
Ross Lambie, standing for Reform UK, may not win — but he could have an impact. Reform has been quietly building a presence in Scottish politics, especially in more economically anxious communities.
Recent polling shows them gaining ground in traditional working-class areas, particularly among ex-Labour and ex-SNP voters who feel alienated by the independence debate or disillusioned by Holyrood’s focus.
While the party remains a wildcard in Scotland, its vote share in this by-election will be watched carefully.
A quiet day, a long night
Election laws mean there’s no public campaigning or media analysis during voting hours. The pavements outside schools and community halls are quiet, save for a trickle of voters, an occasional barking dog, and a polling sign flapping in the breeze.
But make no mistake — party HQs are watching closely. Hamilton isn’t just choosing a local MSP. It’s offering the clearest public temperature check since Humza Yousaf took over as First Minister. For Labour leader Anas Sarwar, a win here could electrify his Holyrood strategy. For the Tories and Greens, it’s a test of message traction in uncertain terrain.
The BBC will provide live coverage from midnight, anchored by Martin Geissler, with real-time updates online and expert breakdowns expected through the night.
In the meantime, ballots are being cast. Quietly. Purposefully. As they always are in Hamilton.
