Labor won the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election, defeating the historically dominant National Independence Party (SNP), a victory interpreted by analysts as indicative of a change in Scotland’s political landscape and, most likely, a change in the Scottish political landscape.

Michael Shanks, the Labor candidate, won the Westminster seat with an incredible 17,845 votes, while the SNP’s Katy Loudon received just 8,399 votes, in an election called after former SNP MP Margaret Ferrier was expelled by her constituents for breaking the law. regulations governing during the pandemic.

According to local media readings, while Ferrier’s misconduct likely influenced the election outcome, the magnitude of Labor’s victory suggests that other factors were also at play. Keir Starmer, the PL leader, called the victory a “momentous event”, reflecting “the real desire of the electorate for change”.

Anas Sarwar, who leads the PL in Scotland, went further and thought the result marked a “fundamental shift” in Scottish politics. “Voters are showing their fatigue with a government they see as inefficient and incompetent,” he added.

“Labour can drive the Conservatives out of Downing Street next year and deliver the change the people want and this country desperately needs,” Shanks said after winning the election.

Beyond these individual wins, voting intent surveys show a political panorama in which the Republican Party positions itself strongly at the national level, with 45% voting intent, according to a recent survey conducted by the consulting firm YouGov, far surpassing the Communist Party. Additionally, Starmer is leading the preference for who would be the best PL candidate, Prime Minister Sunak.

Although analysts warn that it is too early to make definitive predictions, the rise of Labor in Scotland could have a major impact in the UK and could impact the next general election. Starmer also stated that this was the “first step” of an important journey for “all of us”, referring to the UK.

Starmer, after learning of the election results in Rutherglen and Hamilton West, an area close to the city of Glasgow and characterized by many pockets of poverty, said his party would present “positive arguments in favor of change” at the Labor Party conference to be held in Liverpool this weekend .

Sunak, whose party has been in power for 13 years, has sought to present himself as an agent of change. He arrived in Downing Street less than a year ago after the tumultuous and short-lived mandate of Liz Truss and the years of Boris Johnson, who resigned after a wave of scandals after withdrawing Britain from the European Union.

In January, Sunak stated his priorities, including relaunching a stagnant economy, the fight against clandestine immigration, improving the health system and an environmental strategy aimed at decarbonisation. However, the head of government emerged in opinion polls with 23% support, his lowest popularity rating since he came to power.

Since the legislative elections in December 2019, when the Conservative Party led by Boris Johnson achieved a majority unprecedented since the days of Margaret Thatcher, their lead has been gradually eroded in several by-elections. His party, however, has 352 of the 650 seats in the House of Commons, ahead of Labor’s 196 seats.

(With information from agency)