Hamilton byelection win is vindication of Scottish Labour’s doorstep strategy

Victory over SNP and Reform sends strong signal to Scotland’s political parties before next May’s Holyrood elections

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Labour’s victory in Hamilton is both a surprise and a vindication – a demonstration that in a byelection, shocks can take different forms.

It is a surprise to those of us in the outside world who felt certain of a Scottish National party victory, who saw Labour support plummet in the Scottish opinion polls, and the same polls showing Reform’s steeply rising.