Labour By-election Win Could Be as ‘Seismic’ as Winnie Ewing’s 1967 Victory
Voters in Rutherglen and Hamilton West go to polls on Thursday in a by-election sparked by Margaret Ferrier being unseated.
By Tom Eden, Deputy Scottish Political Editor
Published: 23:29 BST, 4 October 2023 | Updated: 23:29 BST, 4 October 2023
Defeating the SNP in today’s crucial by-election could have a ‘seismic’ impact for Labour, comparable to Winnie Ewing’s historic victory for the Nationalists in 1967, according to Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader.
Sarwar believes that winning the Rutherglen and Hamilton West seat could serve as a ‘launch pad’ for Labour’s return to power and the removal of the SNP from government.
Voters are heading to the polls today following the removal of disgraced former Nationalist MP Margaret Ferrier for breaking coronavirus rules.
The SNP, currently embroiled in scandal and internal conflict under Humza Yousaf’s leadership, is desperately defending its 5,230 majority. Yousaf has acknowledged that Ferrier’s behavior and the ensuing turmoil have created a ‘difficult context’ for the Nationalists.
With the SNP facing financial investigations, open conflict, and the Scottish Greens’ growing influence in the Holyrood Government, Sarwar believes that the by-election could become a ‘staging post’ for Labour’s resurgence. He drew a parallel to the historic 1967 Hamilton by-election, won by Winnie Ewing, which is widely regarded as the catalyst for the SNP’s rise to power.
When asked about the potential implications of a Labour victory, Sarwar stated, “We’ve had seismic by-elections before, and it’s fair to say that the Labour Party has been on the wrong side of those seismic by-elections in recent times. This has the potential to be a seismic by-election and a launch pad as we head towards the next general election. We approach that with excitement and confidence, but also with a hunger and desire to earn the trust of the Scottish people.”
Speaking on the eve of the vote, Sarwar acknowledged the challenges faced by the Scottish Labour Party, stating, “We have been a party that has looked like it is in managed decline and fighting to survive. We have not won a parliamentary by-election in Scotland in over 12 years, so I think that emphasizes the scale of the challenge that faces us.”
Katy Loudon, the SNP candidate, agreed that Winnie Ewing’s victory “did have a seismic effect on our politics here.” However, she expressed hope that the voters would not set a downward trajectory for her party. Loudon hopes that the constituency will send a message rejecting Brexit, austerity, and the neglect of Scotland by Westminster.
Mrs. Ewing’s son, Fergus, a critic of the SNP-Greens partnership, was recently suspended from the party for rebelling on a vote of no confidence. He has since stated that the SNP no longer stands up for the people of Scotland and has not indicated if he will rejoin the party after his suspension ends.
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