![\"SNP](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/1_GFMP_SDR-280923-Unison-Hustings-Rutherglen-McHarg-012JPG.jpg\")
SNP candidate Katy Loudon(Image: Garry F McHarg Daily Record)<\/p>\nEXCLUSIVE: 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)<\/p>\n
Scottish Labour has accused the SNP of “parachuting” a candidate into the Hamilton by-election campaign<\/a> who does not live in the constituency.<\/p>\n Katy Loudon<\/a>, a South Lanarkshire councillor, is vying to hold the seat for the Nationalists when voters go to the polls on June 5.<\/p>\n 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<\/a> on both occasions.<\/p>\n But the forthcoming by-election campaign is for a Holyrood seat tragically left empty following the untimely death of former MSP Christina McKelvie<\/a> last month.<\/p>\n Loudon lives in Rutherglen – outside the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse constituency – but has close family living in the area.<\/p>\n This week she announced her campaign would be “centred on local values”.<\/p>\n READ MORE: John Swinney says Scotland faces ‘serious threats’ to its democracy as Reform UK protests outside<\/a>READ MORE: Keir Starmer ‘is a Unionist’ insists official spokesman after PM ducks question<\/a><\/p>\n Loudon said: “The SNP\u2019s campaign in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse will be upbeat, it\u2019ll be positive, and it will be centred on local values.<\/p>\n “Since coming to power, Labour has introduced huge spending cuts \u2013 like the winter heating payment for pensioners \u2013 and they have broken so many promises.<\/p>\n “And Nigel Farage is only interested in spreading his toxic brand of politics for his own self gain. These aren\u2019t the values or priorities of local people.”<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n “Labour’s Davy Russell lives in the community and is the local choice – not the SNP’s parachuted in candidate”.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n “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.”<\/p>\n Bookmakers last week named Scottish Labour as very narrow favourites to win the crunch by-election<\/a>.<\/p>\n The contest for the seat<\/a> is viewed as a dry run between the Nationalists and Labour ahead of next year’s Scottish Parliament elections.<\/p>\n