Michael Shanks takes victory in contest that Labour considered a crucial test of apparent turnaround of its fortunes in Scotland

Scottish Labour’s Michael Shanks has won the Rutherglen and Hamilton West byelection in an overwhelming victory over the SNP that the party leadership declared “seismic”, and a clear demonstration that Scotland could lead the way in delivering a Labour government at Westminster at the coming general election.

In a result that exceeded Scottish Labour expectation, Shanks beat his closest rival, the SNP’s Katy Loudon, by 17,845 votes to 8,399 – a majority of 9,446 and a resounding swing of over 20%.

  • frankPodmore@slrpnk.netMEnglish
    6·
    1 year ago

    Full results, with major parties in bold (with apologies to His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor of India):

    • Gloria Adebo (Scottish Liberal Democrats) - 895 (2.9%)
    • Bill Bonnar (Scottish Socialist Party) - 271
    • Garry Cooke (Independent) - 6
    • Andrew Daly (Independent) - 81
    • Cameron Eadie (Scottish Greens) - 601 (2%)
    • Prince Ankit Love, Emperor of India - 34
    • Niall Fraser (Scottish Family Party) - 319
    • Ewan Hoyle (Volt UK) - 46
    • Thomas Kerr (Scottish Conservatives) - 1,192 (3.9%)
    • Katy Loudon (SNP) - 8,399 (27.6%)
    • Chris Sermanni (Scottish Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition) - 178
    • Michael Shanks (Scottish Labour) - 17,845 (58.6%)
    • David Stark (Reform UK) - 403
    • Colette Walker (Independence for Scotland Party) - 207

    Source: The BBC

    Result: Labour gain from the SNP.

    • 520@kbin.social
      6·
      1 year ago

      with apologies to His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor of India

      I had to Google to make sure shit wasn’t being made up, but no, he actually calls himself the emperor of India.

      • frankPodmore@slrpnk.netMEnglish
        6·
        1 year ago

        You know the saying: the road to India runs through Rutherglen and Hamilton West*.

        *No need to google this, which I did make up.

      • anothermember@beehaw.org
        2·
        1 year ago

        Eh, citation needed? I thought Emperor of India was dropped by George VI.

        Charles III, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of His other Realms and Territories King, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.