Nicola Sturgeon is to return to the campaign trail this weekend in a bid to rally support for the SNP ahead of the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election on 5 June. The former first minister will appear publicly in the constituency for the first time since the by-election was triggered by the passing of Scottish Government minister Christina McKelvie.
In a move designed to underscore the SNP’s commitment to the next generation, Sturgeon will be joined by SNP candidate Katy Loudon for a series of engagements focused on young people and families. Loudon, a South Lanarkshire councillor, is hoping to retain the seat for the SNP in what is widely considered a critical test for the party’s support amid a changing political landscape.
Speaking ahead of Saturday’s visit, Sturgeon said she would “highlight some of the actions the SNP is delivering to transform lives and create opportunities for Scotland’s next generation,” pointing to flagship policies such as the Scottish Child Payment, the expansion of funded childcare hours, and the continued provision of the baby box scheme.
“The approach the SNP is taking in Scotland stands in stark contrast to that of the Labour Government at Westminster,” she said. “Whilst Keir Starmer is refusing to scrap the cruel two-child cap, the SNP is stepping up and ending the two-child limit in Scotland – lifting over 15,000 children out of poverty in the process.
“The SNP will always take the action we can to ensure every child, regardless of their circumstances, gets the best start in life. With Labour kowtowing to Nigel Farage’s corrosive brand of politics, it’s only the SNP who is providing real help and real hope for the next generation.”
Katy Loudon welcomed the former first minister’s support, saying: “It’s great to have Nicola campaigning alongside me. What’s clear is that this community feels incredibly let down by the Labour Party, and it’s more important than ever that the SNP is delivering on their priorities and offering hope when times are tough.”
However, the return of Sturgeon to frontline campaigning has drawn sharp criticism from political opponents.
Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie said: “It is a bold choice for Nicola Sturgeon to begin what is surely a national apology tour at this by-election. From leaving the NHS on its knees, wasting hundreds of millions in public money and kickstarting the housing emergency – she is the architect of the failure people here live with every day.”
Echoing that sentiment, Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton accused Sturgeon of “shamelessly hijacking this by-election to try and desperately talk up her own record.”
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“Voters in this constituency and up and down Scotland won’t be fooled,” Hamilton said. “They are still suffering from her failures and her focus on the politics of division. It is thanks to her that voters feel more disconnected than ever from Holyrood and are disillusioned with politicians.
“By welcoming her along on the campaign trail, it is also clear John Swinney remains happy to stand by her toxic legacy, which he backed every step of the way.”
The by-election contest in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse seat is expected to be closely fought, with Labour hopeful of a resurgence in what was once one of its traditional strongholds. However, the SNP remains confident that its record on social policy and its appeal to younger voters will be enough to maintain its hold on the seat.
With less than a month to go, all eyes will be on how the presence of one of Scotland’s most prominent political figures might shape the outcome.
