Sarwar accuses Swinney of 'dishonest' by-election campaign

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Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, criticized John Swinney for running what he called a “dishonest and disgraceful” campaign prior to the recent Holyrood by-election. Sarwar accused the SNP of directing voters towards Reform UK through tactics he labeled as “shameful” during an appearance on BBC Scotland’s Sunday Show program. In response, Swinney defended his previous statement about the by-election being a “two-horse race” by pointing out Labour’s diminished vote share and citing his party’s data showing a rise in support for Reform.

During the by-election, Scottish Labour secured an unexpected victory as Davy Russell emerged victorious in the Hamilton, Larkhall, and Stonehouse constituency. Following this result, Swinney hinted at a possible cabinet reshuffle in the future, following the SNP’s loss of a seat formerly held by the late Christina McKelvie. In the lead-up to the election, Swinney had emphasized the contest as a direct competition between his party and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK.

Sarwar, in a passionate interview, criticized the SNP’s campaign supporting candidate Katy Loudon, highlighting what he perceived as a lack of ambition and a focus on running down the clock rather than offering beneficial policies. The Scottish Labour leader also accused Swinney of being out of touch with the day-to-day struggles of people in Scotland, labeling it a “disgraceful” state of affairs. Russell secured the seat for Labour with a majority of 602 votes over the SNP’s candidate.

Reform UK, despite finishing third in the by-election, saw their deputy leader Richard Tice view the result as a significant morale boost ahead of the 2026 elections. Sarwar urged the UK government to expedite measures that would positively impact people’s finances, while also taking aim at media commentators for what he perceived as an excessive focus on a potential Labour government in Westminster

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