Scotland in Union June update

A great result

The result of the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse Scottish Parliament by-election is an important moment in Scottish politics. On Friday last week, the SNP’s loss of vote share and Scottish Labour’s victory confirmed that people are fed up with the SNP in government and want a change after years of nationalist obsession.

During the campaign, our volunteers delivered leaflets in the constituency to encourage people to vote tactically for change. In a ‘first past the post’ contest like this, we argued that Labour was best placed to defeat the nationalists. Once again, our tactical voting advice was correct – as it was in every single seat in the 2024 General Election.

Thank you to everyone who helped to deliver this significant SNP defeat. 

The risks of populist nationalism

Were it not for a strong showing from Labour in this by-election, Reform votes would have handed victory to the SNP. We understand why some voters may have used this by-election to cast protest votes against governments at Holyrood or Westminster, but it remains the case that a vote for Reform risks letting the SNP in by the back door. 

Despite two decades of nationalist failure in government, Nigel Farage has said that Reform would be willing to let the SNP remain in power in Holyrood. I believe that this is the last thing we need.  We need politicians who will work in Scotland’s interests, but Mr Farage’s statements during the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election campaign suggest that the interests he prioritises are his own.  Time will tell, but SIU advises caution when it comes to trusting Reform on the union, and on doing what is best for Scotland within the UK.

After we made the points above, on social media and in traditional media, the online abuse directed towards Scotland in Union from supporters of Reform echoed the abuse that we have, sadly, become used to from Scottish nationalists over the last ten years. While in some respects it was amusing to be accused of being both a Labour front and a Tory front on the same day (and being ‘Remainers’, which might perhaps count as being a Lib Dem front?), the tone of the abuse helped to strengthen my conviction that the answer to one type of populist nationalism can’t be another type of populist nationalism.

Moving forward

Last week’s by-election is another step towards removing the nationalists from power in Scotland. It has stopped the SNP from gaining momentum in the lead-up to next year’s crucial Holyrood elections, where voters in Scotland have an opportunity to get rid of the SNP.

Separately, on Friday last week I attended a conference organised by the think tank Our Scottish Future, focusing on innovation and jobs in Scotland, at which a wide variety of speakers presented inspiring visions for Scotland.  A positive aspect of the day was how the discussions led away from the simplistic, bitter politics of nationalism and identity, into debating realistic policies about economic growth, jobs and wellbeing.

If, at last, we can move beyond the nationalists’ politics of division, then we can work together to improve lives in Scotland, secure within the UK.  But first, we need the nationalists out of power at Holyrood, and the May 2026 Scottish Parliament elections will give us the opportunity to achieve that outcome.

Scotland in Union will continue to expose the nationalists’ false promises and to highlight their failings in government, and to work for a brighter future where we are led by politicians who work in Scotland’s best interests.

Thank you again for your support,

Alastair Cameron

Chair

Scotland in Union

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