Labour Hails ‘Seismic’ By-election Win in Rutherglen and Hamilton West

Michael Shanks won by an overwhelming 58.55 percent, boosting Labour’s confidence to oust the Tories and the SNP in the next general election.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar (R) with candidate Michael Shanks after Labour won the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election, at South Lanarkshire Council Headquarters in Hamilton, England, on Oct. 6, 2023. Jane Barlow/PA

Labour leaders in Westminster and Scotland have hailed what they said was a “seismic result” following the party’s landslide victory in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election on Thursday.

Michael Shanks bagged 17,845 votes, or 58.55 percent, pulling off a 20.36 percent swing from the Scottish National Party (SNP).