Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election: Voting closed and count now under way to replace Margaret Ferrier

Published

2 years ago

October 6, 2023

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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.

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.”

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.

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

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 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

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

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

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.”

Politics

‘We’re a team’: Jess Phillips defends PM’s decision to suspend Labour rebels

Published

32 mins ago

July 17, 2025

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Starmer suspends four Labour MPs for breaches of party discipline

A minister has defended Sir Keir Starmer’s decision to discipline rebellious MPs, saying they would have used “stronger” language against those who are “continually causing trouble”.

Home Office minister Jess Phillips told Sky News’ Matt Barbet that Labour MPs were elected “as a team under a banner and under a manifesto” and could “expect” to face disciplinary action if they did not vote with the government.

It comes after the prime minister drew criticism for suspending four Labour MPs who voted against the government on its flagship welfare bill earlier this month, while stripping a further three of their roles as trade envoys.

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Brian Leishman, Chris Hinchliff, Neil Duncan-Jordan and Rachael Maskell all lost the whip, meaning they are no longer part of Labour’s parliamentary party and will sit as independent MPs.

Labour backbenchers lined up to criticise the move last night, arguing it was a “terrible look” that made “a Reform government much more likely”.

But speaking to Sky News, Ms Phillips said: “We were elected as a team under a banner and under a manifesto, and we have to seek to work together, and if you are acting in a manner that is to undermine the ability of the government to deliver those things, I don’t know what you expect.

“Now I speak out against things I do not like, both internally and sometimes externally, all the time.

“There is a manner of doing that, that is the right way to go about it. And sometimes you feel forced to rebel and vote against.”

Referring to a description of the rebels by an unnamed source in The Times, she said: “I didn’t call it persistent knob-headery, but that’s the way that it’s been termed by some.”

She said she would have described it as “something much more sweary” because “we are a team, and we have to act as a team in order to achieve something”.

More than 100 MPs had initially rebelled against the plan to cut personal independent payments (PIP). Ultimately, 47 voted against the bill’s third reading, after it was watered down significantly in the face of defeat.

Three other MPs – who also voted against the government – have had their trade envoy roles removed. They are Rosena Allin Khan, Bell Ribeiro-Addy and Mohammed Yasin.

However, it is understood this was not the only reason behind the decision to reprimand all seven MPs, with sources citing “repeated breaches of party discipline”.

Ms Maskell was one of the lead rebels in the welfare revolt, and has more recently called for a wealth tax to fund the U-turn.

Mr Hinchliff, the MP for North East Hertfordshire, proposed a series of amendments to the flagship planning and infrastructure bill criticising the government’s approach.

Mr Duncan-Jordan, the MP for Poole, led a rebellion against the cut to the winter fuel payments while Alloa and Grangemouth MP Mr Leishman has been critical of the government’s position on Gaza as well as the closing of an oil refinery in his constituency.

Ian Byrne, the Labour MP for Liverpool West Derby, wrote on X on Wednesday that the prime minister’s actions “don’t show strength” and were “damaging Labour’s support and risk rolling out the red carpet for Reform”.

Leeds East MP Richard Burgon added that “challenging policies that harm our communities” would “make a Reform government much more likely”.

Ian Lavery, Labour MP for Blyth and Ashington, warned the suspensions were “a terrible look”.

“Dissatisfaction with the direction the leadership is taking us isn’t confined to the fringes,” he wrote.

Politics

Five reasons to be confused by Starmer’s MP suspensions

Published

2 hours ago

July 17, 2025

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Five reasons to be confused by Starmer's MP suspensions

I’m going to level with you – I am very, very confused.

In fact, I’ve got five reasons why I’m very confused.

The first reason I’m confused is because this is meant to be a show of strength, but most people have literally never heard of these four individuals.

Rachael Maskell is a bit well-known, but if this is intended to impress the public, then I’m not sure the public will notice.

Secondly, if it’s about installing discipline in the parliamentary Labour Party, I’m confused about that. Surely Sir Keir Starmer‘s aim right now should be to unite the parliamentary Labour Party rather than divide it.

After the welfare rebellion, the promise was to listen. Starmer gave interviews saying he was going to create policy more sympathetic to his party.

This is the opposite approach.

The third reason I’m confused is because they’ve been suspended in part for their role in the welfare rebellion that forced the government into its U-turn.

It was only yesterday morning that Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said the government’s welfare reforms were in the “right place” – yet the people who helped get them there are suspended.

Suspended for agreeing with what is now government policy is an odd look.

Fourth, I’m confused at who the most prominent individual to be suspended is – Rachael Maskell.

She was on Sky News within minutes of the suspension looking genuinely surprised and really rather upset.

Now, there’s absolutely no doubt she was a ringleader in this rebellion. Eight days ago, she authored an article in the New Statesman discussing how to organise a government rebellion – so I think that’s pretty much case closed.

But Rachael is of the soft left, not the hard left. And who else is on the soft left? It’s Starmer.

It does feel as if the prime minister is slightly coming for people who have dangerously similar views to him.

I understand this is all about drawing hard lines and showing who’s on your team and who isn’t.

But some of that line looks like it goes awfully close to people that you really wouldn’t want to be on the wrong side of if you’re prime minister.

And finally, three other MPs – Rosena Allin-Khan, Bell Ribeiro-Addy and Mohammed Yasin – have been sacked from their trade envoy jobs. They do retain the party whip.

But here’s the thing that hurts your head: if you are a Lib Dem trade envoy, like Sarah Olney, or if you’re a Tory trade envoy, as George Freeman was until a couple of weeks ago when he was suspended, you do not have to obey the whip – and you can continue to keep your trade envoy role.

But if you’re in the Labour Party and you’re a trade envoy, you do have to obey the whip.

And it’s just one of those mad inconsistencies where if you’re in another party, you can keep your trade envoy role, if you’re in the governing party, you can’t. That just doesn’t make sense at all.

So there are my five reasons why I’m completely confused.