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Candidates confirmed in Holyrood by-election

PA Media A man with grey hair, wearing dark clothes, bends over a sign that says "polling place". The sign is on the pavement of a street, with a stone railing in the background. PA Media
The South Lanarkshire ballot will be held on 5 June

The candidates contesting the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election have been confirmed.

The ballot on 5 June is being held following the death in March of local MSP and Scottish government minister Christina McKelvie.

The SNP and Labour are expected to be the main contenders to win - with Katy Loudon standing for the SNP and Davy Russell for Labour.

There are 10 candidates in total, with Richard Nelson for the Tories, Ann McGuinness for the Scottish Greens and Aisha Mir for the Lib Dems.

Full list of candidates:

  • Katy Loudon - SNP
  • Davy Russell - Labour
  • Richard Nelson - Conservative
  • Ann McGuinness - Greens
  • Aisha Mir - Liberal Democrat
  • Ross Lambie - Reform
  • Collette Bradley - Scottish Socialist Party
  • Andy Brady - Scottish Family Party
  • Janice Mackay - UK Independence Party
  • Mark Wilkinson - Independent
Getty Images A woman with blonde hair looks at the camera while walking in the Scottish Parliament. She is wearing a bright red jacket over a black top.Getty Images
SNP MSP Christina McKelvie died aged 57 in March

It will be the first Holyrood by-election since 2019, with parties hoping to build momentum ahead of next year's Scottish Parliament election.

The new MSP will only be in place for about nine months, with the 2026 vote scheduled for May.

The seat had been held by SNP MSP McKelvie since it was created in 2011.

Her death came following a diagnosis of secondary breast cancer.

Friends, family and parliamentary colleagues gathered for McKelvie's funeral last month.

Emotional tributes were also paid to her in the Scottish Parliament, with First Minister John Swinney describing her as a "kind, loyal and fun-loving colleague".