EXCLUSIVE: SNP candidate Katy Loudon does not live in the Hamilton constituency – but has promised to run a by-election campaign “centred on local values”.
SNP candidate Katy Loudon(Image: Garry F McHarg Daily Record)
Scottish Labour has accused the SNP of “parachuting” a candidate into the Hamilton by-election campaign who does not live in the constituency.
Katy Loudon, a South Lanarkshire councillor, is vying to hold the seat for the Nationalists when voters go to the polls on June 5.
She previously stood for the SNP in the nearby Rutherglen constituency at a Westminster by-election in 2023 and at last year’s UK general election, losing to Labour’s Michael Shanks on both occasions.
But the forthcoming by-election campaign is for a Holyrood seat tragically left empty following the untimely death of former MSP Christina McKelvie last month.
Loudon lives in Rutherglen – outside the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse constituency – but has close family living in the area.
This week she announced her campaign would be “centred on local values”.
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Loudon said: “The SNP’s campaign in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse will be upbeat, it’ll be positive, and it will be centred on local values.
“Since coming to power, Labour has introduced huge spending cuts – like the winter heating payment for pensioners – and they have broken so many promises.
“And Nigel Farage is only interested in spreading his toxic brand of politics for his own self gain. These aren’t the values or priorities of local people.”
A Labour source told the Record: “It’s a long campaign. I hope Katy Loudon can keep remembering her new local values are for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse – and not Rutherglen and Hamilton West, or any of the other seats she has tried to be selected or elected in.
“Labour’s Davy Russell lives in the community and is the local choice – not the SNP’s parachuted in candidate”.
An SNP source told the Record: “Katy’s track record, having served as a South Lanarkshire Councillor for eight years, speaks for itself – leading work to provide free school meals and running appeals for local food banks as education lead for the SNP group.
“While Labour’s values are long gone, Katy will continue to put the local community first and, if elected, will champion the priorities of Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse at Holyrood.”
Bookmakers last week named Scottish Labour as very narrow favourites to win the crunch by-election.
The contest for the seat is viewed as a dry run between the Nationalists and Labour ahead of next year’s Scottish Parliament elections.
McKelvie last won the constituency in 2021 with a solid 4,500 majority for the SNP – but Labour subsequently claimed the equivalent seats at last year’s Westminster election.
Ladbrokes has given odds of 10/11 that Anas Sarwar’s party will claim victory on June 5 – just a fraction ahead of the SNP on 11/10.
Reform UK – who are likely to campaign heavily in the area – are priced at 8/1.
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