Voters in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse will head to the polls on Thursday for the first by-election of this Scottish Parliament. Heckle reached out by email to three progressive and pro-independence candidates to ask them about their campaign priorities, the rise of the far-right and the impasse faced by the independence movement.
In this article, you can read answers from Ann McGuinness, standing for the Scottish Green Party. You can click here to read the answers from SNP candidate Katy Loudon and click here to read the answers from SSP candidate Collette Bradley.
What are the key issues for you in this by-election campaign?
The main issues I’m pushing for are the ones people have been talking to me about on the doorstep; a reversal of public service cuts, tackling poverty and the cost of living, and making communities better connected with each other through better buses and safer walking and cycling routes. It’s about fairness and building a better future.
There are practical solutions to these issues like capping rent rises, expanding free school meals, insulating homes to cut bills and restructure of transport funding and regulation.
As a Green I’m obviously passionate about the environment, we’ve got to make sure we have a liveable planet for future generations. That means funding nature restoration and investing in 20mph neighbourhoods, improving public transport and reducing the need to use cars. The solutions I am talking about would tackle both environmental issues and social inequalities.
Basically, it’s about using the tools in the hands of the Scottish Parliament to make life better for normal people.
How do you propose to tackle the rise of the far-right in Scotland?
People feel scunnered and they see false promises offered by the “main parties” who have had their chance. People are hungry for change and some have been led to the far-right by people who pretend to be anti-establishment but are run by millionaires and funded by multi-millionaires.
It’s worrying to see the far-right gaining traction, but for years we’ve heard politicians pit neighbour against neighbour, whether that’s migrants, people with disabilities or the LGBTQ+ community. My approach is to offer real, tangible change. We’re talking about policies that actually make a difference in people’s lives – better public services, lower costs, warmer homes, easier lives, and a greener future.
We also need to spread that message with joy, positivity and hope for our shared future. By showing people that there’s a positive alternative, one that prioritises their needs over the interests of the super-rich, we can pull them away from the false promises and negativity of the far-right. It’s about building trust and showing that politics can be about helping people, not just playing games. I believe we can offer compassion, solidarity, and integrity that resonates with people.
What way forward do you see for the independence movement in light of Starmer’s refusal to hold a second referendum?
I believe that independence is the best route to building the Scotland we want, that satisfies all my hopes of fairness and building a better future. Where the Scottish people hold the levers of power to properly tax the rich and raise every child out of poverty. Where we can eradicate homelessness, give all our people a hopeful future and get rid of nukes from our waters.
We need to build on that unique Scottish civic nationalism to keep that dream alive. I’m reminded of that mantra from IndyRef: “It’s not about where you’re from, it’s about where we’re going.” We need to keep focussed on where we’re going, not rehashing the old arguments but learn and build a stronger case for independence from the ground up.
We’re a political generation on from IndyRef. We also need to make space for new leaders, new thoughts and younger, hopeful vision – we need to demonstrate the clear economic and social benefits of independence. We need to show people that independence isn’t about waving flags, it’s about having the power to make different choices and build a fairer, greener Scotland.
- The Scottish Parliament by-election in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse takes place on Thursday 5 June 2025. There are 10 candidates running in total.
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