ANAS Sarwar has responded to accusations that his party’s candidate for a key upcoming by-election is unable to “string a handful of words together”.
It comes amid controversy over the refusal of Scottish Labour’s Davy Russell – who will contest the upcoming Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election on June 5 – to participate in an upcoming STV debate.
We previously reported on a series of heavily edited clips featuring Russell with the likes of Scottish Secretary Ian Murray and Scottish Labour leader Sarwar.
With Russell’s speech visibly being cut several times, the clips have been shared widely on social media to suggest that Russell is dodging the upcoming STV debate over fears he won’t perform well.
Great to be at Carrigans in Hamilton yesterday with @DavyRussell4HLS to talk to them about business and the work they do in the local community. They were very frustrated that their business didn’t get the rates relief from the Scottish Govt that was afforded to hospitality… pic.twitter.com/WGSo1mIBJy
— Ian Murray MP (@IanMurrayMP) May 16, 2025
SNP councillor Michael Hutchison, for example, said: “This is the second video I've seen of Davy Russell which has had its audio obviously edited. Now he's refusing to take part in any hustings!
“Have Labour picked a candidate that can't string a handful of words together?”
But Sarwar has hit back at the comments, branding them “classist”.
“That's a completely disparaging comment that is below the belt,” the Scottish Labour leader said during a campaign visit in Hamilton.
“And demonstrates a classist approach to someone who is from this community and speaks like someone from this community.”
The STV debate, penned for June 2, now looks like it will only be between SNP candidate Katy Loudon and Reform UK’s Ross Lambie.
Loudon has already accused Labour of “dragging their heels” over the debate.
She claimed: “Davy Russell is either scared to defend his party’s record or he’s being hidden from media scrutiny by the Labour Party.”
Sarwar, meanwhile, indicated there had been “back and forth discussions” with broadcasters over a possible debate.
