2023 Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election

2023 Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election
← 2019 5 October 2023 2024 →
Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency
Turnout37.2% (Decrease29.3%)
  First party Second party
 
SNP
Candidate Michael Shanks Katy Loudon
Party Labour Co-op SNP
Popular vote 17,845 8,399
Percentage 58.6% 27.6%
Swing Increase24.1% Decrease16.6%
MP before election

Margaret Ferrier
Independent

Elected MP

Michael Shanks
Labour and Co-operative

A 2023 by-election took place in the United Kingdom parliamentary constituency of Rutherglen and Hamilton West on 5 October 2023,[1] following the recall of incumbent MP Margaret Ferrier.[2]

Ferrier, elected for the Scottish National Party, was suspended from the House of Commons in June 2023 for 30 days for breaching COVID-19 regulations in 2020. In accordance with the Recall of MPs Act 2015, this suspension triggered a recall petition in the constituency. This petition was successful, resulting in her removal from the seat and thus triggering a by-election.

The by-election was won by Michael Shanks of Labour with 58.6% of the vote, while Katy Loudon of the SNP finished in second place with 27.6% of the vote.[3] Twelve other candidates stood in the by-election, although none of them exceeded the 5% of the vote required to retain their deposits.[4] Turnout was recorded at 37.19%.[4]

  1. ^ "Rutherglen and Hamilton West: By-election proposed for 5 October". BBC News. 5 September 2023. Retrieved 4 September 2023.
  2. ^ "Margaret Ferrier: Covid breach MP loses seat after recall petition". BBC News. 1 August 2023. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference seismic23 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference STV News, results was invoked but never defined (see the help page).