Scottish Conservatives win Aberdeen South by-election, first Westminster gain since 1967

The result in Aberdeen South

The Conservatives secured 14,308 votes against the SNP's 8,258, flipping a majority of 3,758 from the 2024 general election. Turnout collapsed to 31.4%, down nearly 30 percentage points. The Conservative vote share rose 25 points on 2024, while Labour's share fell 19 points and the SNP's slipped 4.

Conservatives14,308

SNP8,258

Conservatives

14308

SNP

8258

Data from the article text

Conservatives25

SNP-4

Labour-19

Conservatives

25 pp

SNP

-4 pp

Labour

-19 pp

Data from the article text

Campaign dominated by oil and gas

The Tories framed the contest as a referendum on North Sea oil and gas drilling, with candidate Douglas Lumsden hammering the Scottish government's restrictions. UK Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch visited the constituency three times during the brief campaign. Lumsden, a long-serving MSP for the North East, will now have to resign his Holyrood seat because of a ban on dual mandates. Because he is a regional list MSP, no by-election will be held to replace him; the next candidate on the list, Councillor James Adams, would fill the vacancy.

“The people of Aberdeen have stopped the SNP and sent a message to Labour that the destruction of the oil and gas industry must stop now.”

“To everyone in Aberdeen that put their trust in me, I share your anger, I share your frustration, and your fears for the future.”

Reaction

Shadow Scottish Secretary Andrew Bowie credited the win to the former SNP MP Stephen Flynn's personal ambition, saying the party gave Conservatives the opportunity. Flynn, who vacated the seat to join the Scottish parliament, conceded defeat before the result was even announced.

“We want to thank Stephen Flynn for giving us this opportunity.”

“A tough night in Aberdeen that some will need to reflect on, quite heavily.”

SNP holds Arbroath and Broughty Ferry

The nationalists retained the neighbouring seat of Arbroath and Broughty Ferry, where Lara Bird held the seat for the SNP. The party's leader said the SNP would win Aberdeen South back in 2029.

Undercurrent of the Murrell scandal

The Guardian reported that some voters may have rebelled against the SNP over the theft of £400,000 in party funds by former chief executive Peter Murrell, who is married to ex-first minister Nicola Sturgeon.