Grassroots campaign 'definitely working'

Confidence from Labour candidate as he continues to chap the doors

- JUDITH TONNER

Labour by-election candidate Davy Russell insists his doorstep-focused campaign will prove to be the key to unlocking victory in next week’s crunch Holyrood poll in Hamilton, Larkhall & Stonehouse.

He says the contest remains between his party and the SNP, despite the notable rise of Reform - adding that Nigel Farage’s party will "definitely come third" behind the two original frontrunners - and adds that he is confident the campaign strategy of repeatedly visiting thousands of voters' homes will deliver victory on June 5.

The first-time candidate has made much of his credentials as a local resident and says he would be an “outspoken” MSP for his home constituency, telling the Hamilton Advertiser: “I want to make a difference and I think I can make a better job” than his rivals.

Mr Russell said of his highly-localised campaign: “I made a conscious decision at the start that I was going back to basics, actually chapping doors, speaking to people and listening to what they're saying, rather than getting dragged into UK issues.

“I have fought the campaign on local issues that mean a lot to the people of Hamilton, Larkhall & Stonehouse and it’s been very effective. Social media is all personal attacks on me but they don’t come up with alternative policies or programmes. They see me as a threat because I'm the one that's chapping the doors.