Political commentators will have you believe that Labour has achieved something big at the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election. It’s absolute BS and number of votes Labour’s got in this constituency has decreased consistently since 2010 AND this constituency flip-flops consistently between the SNP and Labour.

From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rutherglen_and_Hamilton_West_(UK_Parliament_constituency)

Yesterday’s byelection the Labour Party got 17,845 votes (Labour win)

down on General Election 2019, Labour Party 18,545 votes (SNP win)

down on General Election 2017, Labour Party 19,101 votes (Labour win)

down on General Election 2015, Labour Party 20,304 votes (SNP win)

down on General Election 2010, Labour Party 28,566 votes (Labour win)

So, you see, it was Red Tories Labour’s turn to win at this flip-flopping constituency and that Labour’s vote has decreased consistently since 2010. So not that great a win at all and hardly unexpected.