Swinney ducks UK strategic defence review to hit the by-election campaign trail with Loudon

THE final day of campaigning in the Hamilton by-election yesterday was dominated by a row over John Swinney snubbing a national security briefing.

- By David Walker and Ben Borland

Voters go to the polls today in Hamilton, Stonehouse and Larkhall to elect a replacement for veteran SNP MSP Christina McKelvie, who died aged 57 after a battle with breast cancer.

The Nats are expected to hold the seat, where Ms McKelvie had a majority of more than 4,500, but they have faced an unexpected challenge from Reform UK.

Party leader Nigel Farage visited Scotland in an official capacity for the first time in nearly a decade on Monday and chatted with drinkers at a pub in Larkhall.

Writing in the Scottish Daily Express today, Mr Farage said voters have “a chance to send a clear message to the Scottish political establishment: enough is enough”.

Also on Monday, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was at a BAE Systems shipyard on the Clyde in Glasgow to set out details of the UK Government's strategic defence review.

The Times reported yesterday that Mr Swinney was offered a meeting with Veterans Minister Alistair Cairns to discuss the defence review at 10.15am on Monday.

Defence

However, junior SNP minister Graeme Dey was sent in his place, with the First Minister heading for Lanarkshire to campaign in the by-election instead.

The UK Government claims a dramatic increase in defence spending will protect 25,000 Scottish jobs and deliver a significant boost to the Scottish economy.

Despite this, Mr Swinney chose to join his candidate Katy Loudon at a soft-play centre where he was pictured playing with toddlers.