SCOTTISH Labour have won a shock victory in the Holyrood by-election – defying bookies’ odds.
And the win is a major boost to Anas Sarwar’s hopes of beating John Swinney to Bute House at next year’s Holyrood election.
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Scottish Labour had been written off by many, with bookies putting them third most likely to win the seat behind both the SNP and Reform.
Punters were offered odds of 11-1 on Labour before polls opened, and the SNP were 1-6 favourites, with Reform second favourites.
However the party has defied expectations and lived up to the quiet confidence from some insiders that they were always in the race.
The victory is a stunning defeat for the SNP who believed the seat was an easy victory following the death of popular local Nats MSP Christina McKelvie.
Labour’s campaign was seen as low key and Mr Russell came in for criticism from rivals for swerving TV appearances.
