SNP’s Humza Yousaf takes to the dancefloor on the campaign trail to win over voters ahead of by-election next week
- Mr Yousaf conceded that the context of the by-election has been ‘challenging’
Scotland’s First Minister dusted off his dancing shoes on Saturday as he visited a children’s dance class at a community centre on the campaign trail ahead of a key by-election.
Both Humza Yousaf and the SNP’s candidate Katy Loudon were both seen laughing as they follow the instructions from the dance leader alongside the youngsters at Tempo Community Space in Rutherglen.
Mr Yousaf, who was spotted striking his best pose, conceded that the context of the by-election has been ‘challenging’ but said there is strong support for the SNP.
The First Minister has said he remains ‘hopeful’ of an SNP win in a key by-election next week. Ms Loudon will go up against Sir Keir Starmer’s ‘man in Scotland’ Michael Shanks for the Rutherglen and Hamilton West seat on October 5.
It is likely to be an important battleground ahead of the UK general election, which is expected next year.
Scotland’s First Minister dusted off his dancing shoes on Saturday as he visited a children’s dance class at a community centre
The seat was vacated by former SNP MP Margaret Ferrier following a successful recall petition after her conviction for breaching Covid restrictions in 2020.
Speaking during the visit, Mr Yousaf said: ‘I go in hopeful over these last few days of the by-election for a couple of reasons: one, because we have a phenomenally good candidate in Katy Loudon, who is working hard, talking to people every hour of every day as much as she possibly can.
‘But the second reason I go in hopeful is because I know the people of Rutherglen and Hamilton West have now a very stark choice.
‘They can either vote for Keir Starmer’s man here in Scotland – and Labour have taken this vote for granted, they’ve already decided they’ve won this by-election – or they have a choice of the alternative, of Katy Loudon, who will only take her orders from the people of Rutherglen and Hamilton West and stand up for the issues that matter to them, predominantly battling against that Westminster cost-of-living crisis that has caused so much misery to so many people in this constituency.’
Both Humza Yousaf (middle) and the SNP’s candidate Katy Loudon (pictured left in blue) are both seen laughing as they follow the instructions from the dance leader
First Minister Humza Yousaf (middle) joins SNP candidate for the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election, Katy Loudon (right) and the dance teacher at Tempo Community Space on September 30
He added: ‘It could well come down to on the day making sure we get that vote out, motivate them, that’s what we’ll be concentrating on for the next few days.’
Candidate Ms Loudon said: ‘By-elections have the potential to cause a shockwave in politics, we know that from Winnie Ewing in this area 50 years ago.
‘This is a chance for people in this area to send a message and that message is we reject Westminster, we reject Westminster being broken or it not working for this constituency, we reject Brexit, we reject years of horrible welfare policies, years of austerity, and it’s a message for Labour as well.
‘People have the chance to do that and it’s to send a message to Keir Starmer – we’re not going to put up with your lurch to the right because your lurch to the right is to support your vote down south, it’s not about doing anything for the voters of Rutherglen and Hamilton west here in this area.’
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