Nicola Sturgeon joins campaign trail with Hamilton by-election candidate Katy Loudon
First Minister John Swinney highlighted the impact of the Winter Fuel Payment as he made his latest by-election campaign visit to Hamilton, this week visiting the busy community cafe at the St Mary's for All centre.
He joined SNP candidate Katy Loudon to meet volunteers running the community space and its popular Beechwood Cafe, as well as customers at a busy lunchtime and even took part in K-Otic Productions' regular drama class at the Auchingramont Road venue.
It kicked off another week of high-profile campaigning in the hotly-contested Holyrood by-election for the Hamilton, Larkhall & Stonehouse seat, with Ms Loudon also having been joined for weekend events by former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
Mr Swinney made his second visit in five days to Hamilton as he announced his government's plans to reinstate a Winter Fuel Payment of between £100 and £300 for impacted pensioners by November 30, and said of his conversations with voters: 'The issues that we are confronting are issues of concern to the public in Hamilton. One of those which we're hearing a lot of anger about, is Labour's decision to remove the Winter Fuel Payment as one of their first acts in government.
'The SNP government has decided to restore that payment and will make sure all those payments are undertaken before St Andrew's Day so that we can get those into the hands of pensioners to protect them over this winter. That's just one of the issues of concern about the Labour government causing enormous frustration in this by-election, and I'm determined that the SNP will deliver on the public's priorities.'
He added of the by-election: 'We are working very hard to win it. I'm going to this by election to retain [the seat and] want to retain it in memory of my dear colleague, Christina McKelvie.'
Mr Swinney told the Hamilton Advertiser of his local campaigning: 'The underlying issues are both concerns about fuel payments, cuts to benefits that are proposed by the UK government, the essential balancing of the books on the back of the poor – underlying the cost of living and standards of living.
'Some of those issues have cropped up in my conversations, but another important element which has cropped up is the really positive, beneficial value of facilities like this in the community that create gathering spaces where good work can be undertaken.
'I saw some of that today, where people can come together in a spirit of community, and St Mary's for All is a splendid example of that.'
The SNP are bidding to retain the seat held by late MSP Ms McKelvie for the past 14 years, with a record field of 10 candidates appearing on the ballot paper.
Asked about the rise of Reform, the First Minister noted that 'there's undoubtedly support' for the party and said: 'What's driving it is people's frustration with their standard of living and with issues around their public services.
'I accept my responsibility with the Scottish Government to do something about that, which is why I'm taking forward the steps I am on the health service, the cost of living or on the peak rail fares.'
Also campaigning this week with Ms Loudon was Ms Sturgeon, who joined her on a weekend visit to Hamilton Gymnastics Club and meeting residents in Earnock. The former First Minister called the SNP candidate 'brilliant' and highlighted party policies including the Scottish Child Payment and expansion of free early learning and childcare.
Ms Loudon told the Hamilton Advertiser that voters 'really appreciate' the senior figures' campaign visits, and said: 'The First Minister is really keen to speak to people on the doors.
'It says a lot about his approach and the important part for me is listening to people.
'People are really keen to speak about the NHS, primary care services, and a lot are feeling terribly let down by Labour.
'I've been a councillor since 2017 and know this area really well and my priorities are supporting residents.'
A total of 10 candidates are standing in the constituency's by-election on June 5. The full list of those appearing on the ballot paper is: Collette Bradley (Scottish Socialist Party); Andy Brady (Scottish Family Party); Ross Lambie (Reform); Katy Loudon (SNP); Janice MacKay (UKIP); Ann McGuinness (Green); Aisha Mir (Liberal Democrats); Richard Nelson (Conservative); Davy Russell (Labour); and Marc Wilkinson (independent).
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