The date of June by-election in McKelvi's Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse seats.

A by -election is to be held on 5 June to determine the successor of late SNP MSP Christina McKelvi.

McKelvi, who represented Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonhouse since 2011, died on the age of 57 final month. He was detected of secondary breast most cancers.

Alison Johnstone, the presiding officer of the Scottish Parliament, introduced the date in a letter to the Chief Executive Officer of South Lanarkshire Council.

This would be the first Holiroad by -election since 2019.

The SNP and Labor are anticipated to be the primary contender to win the seat, each events expect tempo earlier than the subsequent yr's Scottish Parliament elections.

South Lanarkshire Councilor Katy Loudon has been declared as SNP candidate.

The former faculty instructor was overwhelmed by Labor's Michael Shanex within the Westminster by-election for Rutraglen and Hamilton West in 2023. She additionally misplaced within the race for the Rutraglen seat throughout final yr's common election.

The winner of the competitors will likely be for under 9 months, which is able to maintain Holirud elections for May 2026.

Loudon stated: “This campaign is about giving the people of Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse a chance to vote for an SNP MSP that will build on Christina's incredible heritage and stand for local people on every occasion.”

Scottish Labor Deputy Leader Jackie Bailey stated: “This by -election is a chance for people of Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonhouse to vote for a new direction with Scottish Labor.”

McKelvi was a minister from 2018, later holding medication and alcohol briefly.

Friends, household and parliamentary colleagues gathered final week for McKelvi's funeral.

He was additionally paid a emotional tribute within the Scottish Parliament.

The first minister John Swine described him as “kind, loyal and fun-making colleague”.