Unlike some by-election gains, it was held at the next general election and eventually became a fairly safe Labour seat, with Mackenzie serving as MP until 1987.
[1] The by-election was one of four (the others being Bury St Edmunds, Devizes and Winchester being held on the same day in which the seat was being defended by a candidate supporting the incumbent Conservative government.
[2] It was felt voter turnout could be crucial and Sproat's agent, F. W. S. Craig had arranged for 1000 party workers and 300 cars to be active on polling day.
The Glasgow Herald considered the result in Rutherglen significant as the Conservatives had won the seat in 1951 when they had a small overall majority and swings were usually less pronounced in Scotland than the rest of the UK.
"[8] Mackenzie claimed the "positive swing to Labour" meant that the seat could not be considered marginal and the result was "bound to stand" at the forthcoming general election.