Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election: Voting closed and count now under way to replace Margaret Ferrier
Voting has closed and counting is now under way to replace shamed MP Margaret Ferrier.
Ms Ferrier was ousted from her Rutherglen and Hamilton West seat in August following a successful recall petition for breaching COVID restrictions in 2020.
Voters took to the polls between 7am and 10pm on Thursday for the by-election, with Ms Ferrier’s successor expected to be announced during the early hours of Friday morning.
Out of the 82,104 electorate, a total of 30,531 votes were cast (37.19% turnout).
The turnout is down from 66.48% at the snap 2019 general election, when 53,794 valid votes were cast.
Fourteen candidates are battling it out for the hotly contested seat.
All eyes will be on the SNP and Scottish Labour – with both parties treating the by-election as an important battleground ahead of the next UK general election.
The South Lanarkshire seat has changed hands between the parties at each of the past three general elections.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar and candidate Michael Shanks arriving at the count
Upon arrival at the count, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar told Sky News: “I think it’s going to be a significant night.”
Meanwhile, an SNP source earlier said: “We have to be realistic. It’s been a tough time and we think the turnout will be very low.”
The result is expected during the early hours of Friday morning
Ms Ferrier, who won the seat for the SNP in 2019, was forced to sit as an independent after losing the party whip when her COVID breach came to light.
Ms Ferrier was subsequently charged by police, ordered to undertake unpaid work, suspended from the Commons for 30 days and removed from her seat following a successful recall petition.
Ballot boxes arriving at the count
The count is taking place at South Lanarkshire Council headquarters in Hamilton.
Who is standing?
• Gloria Adebo (Scottish Liberal Democrats)
• Bill Bonnar (Scottish Socialist Party)
• Garry Cooke (Independent)
• Andrew Daly (Independent)
• Cameron Eadie (Scottish Green Party)
• Prince Ankit Love (Independent)
• Niall Fraser (Scottish Family Party)
• Ewan Hoyle (Volt UK)
• Thomas Kerr (Scottish Conservatives)
• Katy Loudon (SNP)
• Christopher Sermanni (Scottish Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition)
• Michael Shanks (Scottish Labour Party)
• David Stark (Reform UK)
• Colette Walker (Independence for Scotland Party)
SNP: Katy Loudon
SNP leader Humza Yousaf and candidate Katy Loudon outside a Cambuslang polling station earlier on Thursday
The SNP are fielding South Lanarkshire councillor Katy Loudon.
The former primary school teacher has lived in the constituency for 14 years and has been a councillor since 2017.
Ms Loudon believes the by-election is an opportunity to “show Westminster that Scotland wants – and deserves – better than the Tory status quo”.
She added: “The Tories and Labour now stand hand in hand on a range of damaging policies including Brexit and the two-child cap and rape clause, which hits 1,600 children in Rutherglen and Hamilton West.”
During her campaign, Ms Loudon said she would push Westminster to reinstate a £400 energy bill rebate to help struggling families over winter.
She also said she would happily speak out on issues which disproportionately impacted her constituents.
She said: “I’m not shy to come forward. I’ve got the ear of the first minister and the ear of ministers, especially through this campaign.”
Ms Loudon also accused opponent Mr Shanks of “only talking about Margaret Ferrier” on the doorstep and claimed Scottish Labour “are offering nothing”.
Scottish Labour: Michael Shanks
Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar joined candidate Michael Shanks on the campaign trail
Scottish Labour are championing Renfrewshire teacher Michael Shanks.
Mr Shanks previously made headlines after running along all 6,110 streets in Glasgow. He started the challenge during the first COVID lockdown and “crossed the finish line” in January last year.
Sir Keir Starmer’s party is hopeful that a win in Rutherglen and Hamilton West will show that Labour can make gains against the SNP at the upcoming general election, potentially paving the way for the party’s return to power at Westminster.
Scottish Labour put the cost of living crisis front and centre of its campaign.
It set out proposals to tackle the issue – including a clean energy plan that will reportedly save households up to £1,400 a year and a new deal for working people that it said would boost the minimum wage and make work pay.
As the count got under way, Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: “Michael Shanks should be proud of the energetic campaign he has led in Rutherglen and Hamilton West.
“It is clear for all to see that Scottish Labour is once more a serious force in Scottish politics.
“From our plans to make work pay to acting to put money into the pockets of working people, Scottish Labour has proudly campaigned on the priorities of the people.
“The people of Rutherglen and Hamilton West have spoken – soon we will know whether they have chosen a fresh start with Scottish Labour.”
Scottish Conservatives: Thomas Kerr
Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross with candidate Thomas Kerr, second right. Pic: Scottish Conservatives
The Scottish Conservatives are backing Glasgow councillor Thomas Kerr, who has pledged to tackle the cost of living crisis, reduce NHS waiting times and protect local services.
At the count, Mr Kerr said his party ran a “pretty positive campaign”.
He noted that the Scottish Tories were “punching above their weight” against favourites the SNP and Scottish Labour, but added his party was laying the groundwork ahead of the next Westminster and Holyrood elections.
Mr Kerr said many of the constituents he spoke to during his campaign highlighted their struggles with the cost of living crisis, which he could relate to.
He stated that there was no “real difference” between the SNP and Scottish Labour.
Mr Kerr earlier said the SNP will be “fully focused on relentlessly pushing for another divisive referendum”.
He added: “Meanwhile, Scottish Labour cannot credibly offer voters a fresh start when on so many issues you cannot put a cigarette paper between them and the SNP, including when they voted for Nicola Sturgeon’s flawed gender self-id bill.”
Mr Kerr told Sky News: “We’re offering a real alternative and a real change.”
Scottish Greens: Cameron Eadie
Gillian Mackay MSP and Scottish Greens co-leader Lorna Slater with candidate Cameron Eadie. Pic: Scottish Greens
Student Cameron Eadie is standing for the Scottish Greens and had urged voters to put “people and planet” at the top of the agenda at Westminster.
If elected, he said he would fight to remove the “cruel two-child benefit cap and rape clause whilst standing up for our environment”.
At the count, Mr Eadie told Sky News that he was “absolutely proud” of his campaign and team, and said it had been a “fantastic opportunity” to energise activists in the area.
He said most people he spoke to while canvassing were concerned about the cost of living crisis and climate damage.
Mr Eadie acknowledged that most people believe it’s a “two-horse race” between the SNP and Scottish Labour.
But speaking of his run, he said: “It’s something I’ve really enjoyed. It’s been a good experience.”
Scottish Liberal Democrats: Gloria Adebo
Scottish Liberal Democrats leader Alex Cole-Hamilton with candidate Gloria Adebo. Pic: Scottish Liberal Democrats
Data analyst Gloria Adebo is running for the Scottish Liberal Democrats.
Ms Adebo said constituents had been “badly hammered by unnecessary and damaging SNP government cuts”.
She added: “SNP cuts now look set to cause the closure of all local police stations in the area – on top of the threat to care homes, day services, swimming pools and leisure facilities.
“It is time to stop the SNP’s centralising policies in their tracks and give a fair share of the Scottish budget to local services and local people.”
Ms Adebo said the SNP have “no interest” in working constructively.
She added: “Rather than perpetuate division, Scottish Liberal Democrats would work in partnership across the UK on key issues like the cost of living and reforming the UK to make it work better, strengthen ties with our European neighbours and build a better way forward together.”
MP Mike Amesbury has been jailed for 10 weeks after punching a man in the street – and has been kicked out of the Labour Party.
The Runcorn and Helsby MP pleaded guilty in January to assault by beating of 45-year-old Paul Fellows in Main Street, Frodsham, Cheshire, in the early hours of 26 October.
Politics latest: ‘Alarm bells ringing’ for Labour
As well as a 10-week jail sentence, Amesbury, 55, must pay £200 compensation to Mr Fellows.
Amesbury had been drinking in the town in his constituency where he lives before arriving at a taxi rank, where Mr Fellows approached him to complain about the closure of the Sutton Weaver swing bridge.
The court heard how, after punching Mr Fellows in the head and knocking him to the ground, Amesbury punched him a further five times on the ground before members of the public intervened.
As he was being held back, he told Mr Fellows: “You won’t threaten your MP again, will you?”
The victim suffered a lump on his head and a graze on his elbow in what the Crown Prosecution Service said was a “persistent assault”.
MP Mike Amesbury outside Chester Ellesmere Port and Neston Magistrates’ Court. Pic: PA
Labour and Reform call for by-election
Amesbury’s future as an MP remains under question as his lawyer indicated he will appeal the sentence.
Otherwise, MPs who receive a custodial sentence, even if it is suspended, automatically trigger a recall petition which could result in a by-election if 10% of constituents sign it.
This will have to wait until the appeal period is over.
Labour suspended Amesbury from the party shortly after the incident, so he has been sitting as an independent.
They have said he will not be admitted back in and called for a by-election, saying his constituents “deserved better” after his “completely unacceptable actions”.
Reform UK also called for Amesbury “to do the honourable thing and resign immediately”.
‘Alarm bells will be ringing’ for PM
Sky News chief political correspondent Jon Craig said while Labour won the seat at last year’s election with a “fairly healthy majority” of more than 14,000, there will be “real nervousness” within the party about holding it.
Reform came second in Runcorn and Helsby at the general election and – given their lead in the national polls – Craig said “alarm bells will be ringing” for Sir Keir Starmer.
Tap here to read Jon Craig’s full analysis.
Mike Amesbury was captured punching a man on CCTV
‘A necessary punishment’
Sentencing Amesbury, deputy senior district judge Tan Ikram said an immediate custodial sentence was “necessary as a punishment and a deterrent”.
The judge added Amesbury, who has been an MP since 2017, would serve 40% of his sentence in custody and will remain on licence for 12 months after his release.
Amesbury’s lawyer requested the judge return to the court moments after he was taken to the cells by two security guards, as he wanted to make a bail application while they appeal his sentence.
The judge returned to court, sat down, paused briefly and said: “Application refused.”
Read more:
Trump makes Starmer’s life harder
Net zero push provides bump in salaries
Amesbury will be taken to HMP Altcourse in Liverpool. Unlike many defendants, he did not appear to have a bag of belongings with him.
After pleading guilty, he described the incident as “highly regrettable” and apologised to Mr Fellows and his family outside the court.
Alison Storey, senior specialist prosecutor with the Crown Prosecution Service’s special crime division, said Amesbury’s victim did not react aggressively and was alone at the time of the assault.
The net zero sector has grown by 10% over the past year – adding £83bn to the UK economy, a new study suggests.
Employment in green businesses and industry has also climbed 10%, supporting the equivalent of 951,000 full-time jobs (2.9% of total UK employment).
Politics latest: PM warns of ‘crucial moment’ in Ukraine war
The study – commissioned by thinktank the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) – found for every £1 of value generated by the net zero economy, an additional £1.89 was created in the wider economy.
It report was published as the government increases efforts to meet a legally binding goal to cut greenhouse gas emissions to zero overall (that’s net zero) by 2050.
Some Conservative and Reform MPs have criticised net zero, electric cars and renewables, suggesting efforts to curb climate change are to blame for higher energy bills and the deindustrialisation of Britain.
But the report, with analysis from CBI Economics and the Data City, suggests the UK’s net zero economy is a significant driver of growth, innovation, and productivity.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
What’s inside Labour’s net zero plan?
Where is the growth happening?
Renewables, electric vehicles, low carbon heating, recycling and green finance are all part of the net zero sector.
Small and medium businesses with fewer than 250 employees are the main drivers of growth, and salaries are 15% higher than the UK average (£43,100, compared with £37,430).
Regions beyond London and the South East are where the net zero economy is growing significantly, the report found, boosting some of the country’s most deprived areas.
The West Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber, and southwest England were the largest contributors, each more than 5% of the national total, while Scotland’s net zero economy has grown by 21.3% since 2022 – now worth £9.1bn.
Read more:
Scientists condemn Reform MP
Warning over ‘unproven’ carbon capture
RWE’s Gwynt y Mor, off the coast of North Wales, is the world’s fifth largest offshore wind farm. Pic: Ben Birchall/PA
Tyne and Teesside was also highlighted as a hotspot thanks to a £1bn Nissan electric vehicle project, which includes a gigafactory for next-gen batteries. It is creating 6,200 jobs.
London and the South East are still leading the way, with £16.2bn and £13.1bn of green investment respectively.
Overall, the sector attracted £23bn of public, private and foreign direct investment – and each full-time job generated £105,000 in economic value, well above the UK average, the report found.
‘You can’t have growth without green’
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the findings showed “net zero is essential to growth, a strong economy, and money in working people’s pockets”.
Making Britain “a clean energy superpower” will provide “energy security, good jobs, and investment in our communities”, he added.
Louise Hellem, chief economist at the CBI, said “there are huge emerging markets for green technologies that the UK must capitalise on”.
“It is clear, you can’t have growth without green,” she said.
The Dubai Financial Services Authority has recognized the first stablecoins under its crypto token regime: USDC and EURC.
-
Sports2 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports11 months agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports1 year agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports3 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business2 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway