Scottish by-elections 'stepping stone' to Labor majority, says Keir Starmer

Labour is seeking to overthrow the SNP's majority of 5,320 in the by-election in Rutherglen and Hamilton West - a seat that switched allegiance to several times since 2010

Keir Starmer was speaking alongside Scottish Labor leader Anas Sarwar (

Image: PA)

Keir Starmer has insisted victory in a crucial Scottish by-election will be a vital 'stepping stone' on the road to a Labor majority government.

The Labor leader said the vote in Rutherglen and Hamilton West - expected in the fall - was a "real moment" to show renewal north of the border.

A by-election has been called in the constituency after ex-SNP MP Margaret Ferrier, who was found guilty of breaking Covid laws, was kicked out of the Commons. Thousands of her constituents have signed a recall petition after Ms Ferrier refused to step down more than two years after admitting to traveling from London to Scotland with the virus.

Labour is seeking to overthrow the SNP's majority of 5,320 in Rutherglen and Hamilton West - a seat that has shifted allegiance several times since 2010. Speaking alongside Scottish party leader Anas Sarwar, Mr Starmer said: "It's very important to us. Obviously it's a by-election and so it's an important step towards a general election. But we know it will be at some point next year. "

“And for anyone who is absolutely committed to a majority Labor government – ​​that will only happen if we win Scotland. So it is really, really important that we win this constituency as a stepping stone to the battle we will be fighting next year." The Labor leader stressed: "In order to get a one-seat majority Labor government, we have to get a bigger swing than [Tony] Blair did in 1997. That's the scale of the task."

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The date of the by-election - a major test for Labor and the SNP - will be announced in September when the Commons returns from the summer recess. Mr Starmer added: "This is of course the first chance we have had and the Scottish workforce has had to show the progress we have made over the past few years, particularly under the leadership of Anas [Sarwar]. This is our chance to show the progress we've made."

Mr. Starmer also sought to play down claims of a split between Scottish Labor and the party in Westminster over the controversial two-child benefit limit. It comes after the Labor leader said the party would not abandon the policy - but Mr Sarwar said he would 'pressure' a Labor government to drop the measure.

Mr. Starmer said, "Anas and I have a very, very solid working relationship. So anyone trying to find a division is going to have a very, very long search."

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