Michael Shanks: Who is the new MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West?

The Labour candidate defeated SNP candidate Katy Loudon by 17,845 votes to 8,399. a majority of 9,446.

Michael Shanks
Author: Alice FaulknerPublished 6th Oct 2023

Labour has won Scotland's first recall by-election, with the party winning the seat of Rutherglen and Hamilton West from the SNP.

Michael Shanks was elected as the new MP for the constituency, defeating SNP candidate Katy Loudon by 17,845 votes to 8,399. a majority of 9,446.

The by-election was triggered after former SNP MP Margaret Ferrier, who breached Covid rules, was voted out of her position by constituents in a recall petition.

Who is Michael Shanks?

Michael Shanks was a modern studies teacher at Park Mains Secondary School, in Erskine.

The 35-year-old is a local to the Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency - in his biography on the Scottish Labour website, he writes: "This is my home.

"It is the community that I live in, have worked in, and that I volunteer in.

"As a teacher and a volunteer working with disabled children, I know the challenges faced by families here, but I also know the enormous potential that we have."

Keen runner

Michael has previously hit the headlines and the pavements after running on every street in Glasgow last year - totalling almost 1500 miles, or 2325 km, which is roughly the same distance from Glasgow to Moscow.

READ MORE: Glasgow man runs every inch of pavement in city

At the time, he told our station: "I am definitely not an athlete and in fact, I am a very amateur runner.

"One day I would go and run around Possilpark or Castlemilk and tick off 20 or 30 streets whilst doing a 10km run.

"Some streets took longer to complete than others like Duke Street or Great Western Road.

"It was so interesting seeing parts of the city I thought I knew very well when in actual fact I didn't because you tend to take the same route everywhere.

"There are so many places, even in my own community, that I have driven through for so many years and I have not stopped to explore them."

Battle between Labour and the SNP

Both the SNP and Scottish Labour were keen to win the seat ahead of the next general election, which is expected to be held next year.

The SNP had hoped to pass its first major electoral test since Humza Yousaf took over from Nicola Sturgeon as leader and First Minister.

However, with Labour's success in South Lanarkshire, the party hopes the win will improve its chances of forming a majority UK government at the next ballot.

Political pledges

Michael states that he will back Labour's demands for help from SNP and Conservative governments for families struggling with the cost of living crisis, including a long-term plan to cut household bills by up to £1,400 a year.

He also marks the NHS as a priority, including support for Labour's plans for an "NHS fit for the future."

Michael is also committing to "create new, high-quality jobs and opportunities for local people" through the party's New Deal for Working People.

He is pledging to reform business rates and introduce fees for online retailers in a bid to level the playing field for local high streets.

The MP is also backing Labour's opposition to the SNP's hike in Council Tax.

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