Scotland's Labour party emerged victorious in the Hamilton, Larkhall, and Stonehouse by-election.

Scotland's Labour party emerged victorious in the Hamilton, Larkhall, and Stonehouse by-election.

Gracing Hamilton's heart, the abandoned Bairds department store stands as a bleak symbol of the past and a telltale sign of our modern political climate.

Conversations on the street revolve around memories of a bustling city hub, with the blame for the area's stagnation being thrown at the feet of the established parties.

"The **SNP* has done squat for Hamilton... We need someone to take action, and I'm not so sure Labour*** is up for the task," said one woman chatting by Belle's Tearoom outside.

Apathy remains the dominant force.

But a change was brewing—one uncommon in Scottish politics.

More than seven thousand citizens devised an answer to their woes on Thursday. That answer? Nigel Farage and his party, Reform UK.

Launching with little resources and infrastructure, Reform UK finished just three percentage points behind the SNP in last week's by-election. As expected, Farage devoured Tory votes in the area. However, such a performance doesn't account for their surge in popularity.

"We took votes from all parties... There's a massive surge of young people, particularly young men, shifting towards us," explained Thomas Kerr, a local Reform councillor and campaigner.

Excessive focus on independence has become less decisive in electoral support, according to Reform UK. Instead, domestic issues like the cost of living and the NHS have emerged as top priorities. This shift is causing traditional political propriety to unravel, including the assumption that Scots would never vote for Nigel Farage.

Now confident of securing their first MSPs in May's parliamentary elections, Reform UK is forcing the established parties to reconsider their tactics. Questions loom over the politically opportune position regarding immigration in Scotland and the socially liberal identity issues traditionally advocated by the SNP.

Yet there exists a deeper tension. The SNP and Labour boasted campaigns casting the by-election as a two-horse race between them and Reform. However, the result demonstrated a three-way fragmentation—potentially a complicated dance in the realm of proportional representation that characterizes Scottish Parliament politics.

For now, Labour claims the victory and will attempt to leverage it to rejuvenate their flagging ratings. But this outcome does not suggest a definitive tipping point. Labour sources argue that the sophistication of their digital campaign played a significant role, while others point to the strong support for a popular local candidate.

However, it's worth remembering that before the SNP surge in 2015, this section of West Central Scotland would have been considered a Labour stronghold. Thus, the party's victory was unexpected, underscoring their wider standing.

Back in Hamilton, Bairds is not the only remnant of yesteryear. For the SNP, the town signifies the party's historical electoral triumphs. A shock victory by Winnie Ewing in a 1967 by-election marked their entrance onto the political stage, sparking a reevaluation among their rivals. Today, Reform UK has used this slice of Scotland's central belt to create a similar stir.

Learn More:Why did Zia Yusuf resign as chairman of Reform UK?

It's complicated: The UK Government's ongoing immigration reforms and their potential impact on Scotland

The SNP's rough road to recovery after a dismal Hamilton by-election result

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1. The abandoned Bairds department store serves as a melancholic reminder of a once vibrant city hub, pointing towards the current state of affairs in politics.
2. Residents conversate about the city's past glory, blaming the state of the area on the established parties.
3. One woman expresses her dissatisfaction with the SNP, stating they have accomplished little for Hamilton.
4. Apathy is prevalent amidst the citizens.
5. A change in Scottish politics is on the horizon, as shown by the rise of Reform UK.
6. Seven thousand citizens proposed a solution to their problems on Thursday, leaning towards Reform UK.
7. Nigel Farage and his party, Reform UK, performed exceptionally well in last week's by-election, despite limited resources.
8. Reform UK took votes from all parties, surging in popularity due to an influx of young voters, particularly young men.
9. The excessive focus on independence has waned in electoral support, giving way to domestic issues like cost of living and the NHS.
10. Reform UK's surge challenges traditional political assumptions about Scots not voting for Nigel Farage.
11. Reform UK is confident of securing their first MSPs in May's parliamentary elections.
12. The established parties are reevaluating their strategies due to Reform UK's rise.
13. Questions surround immigration and socially liberal identity issues traditionally advocated by the SNP in Scotland.
14. The SNP and Labour portrayed the by-election as a two-horse race, but the result showed a three-way fragmentation.
15. Labour claims victory in the by-election, aiming to rejuvenate their flagging ratings.
16. The unexpected victory by Labour calls attention to their wider standing.
17. Hamilton is significant for the SNP, as it marked their initial entrance onto the political scene in 1967.
18. Reform UK has made a similar impact on the central belt of Scotland as the SNP did in 1967.
19. There is ongoing debate about the impact of the UK Government's immigration reforms on Scotland.
20. Zia Yusuf's resignation as chairman of Reform UK is a complex issue to understand.
21. The SNP's road to recovery following the dismal Hamilton by-election result is fraught with challenges.

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