Former Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson has urged people in Aberdeen South not to split the unionist vote in next week’s by-election.
Voters will go to the polls on Thursday to replace former SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, who was elected to Holyrood and made a minister last month.
Oil and gas has, unexpectedly, become a key battleground for the three parties seen as having the best chance to win the seat – the Scottish Tories, the SNP and Reform UK.
But senior Conservative figures are worried that votes for Reform could split their support and allow the SNP to retain the seat.
The race was called after the resignation of Stephen Flynn following his election to Holyrood.
Speaking ahead of a visit to the seat, Baroness Davidson said the result was “on a knife-edge”.
“Aberdeen South’s next MP will either be a Scottish Conservative MP, in Douglas Lumsden, who will relentlessly champion the oil and gas industry, or an SNP MP who will only accelerate the decline of the North Sea,” she said.
“No other party can beat the SNP here. That is why pro-UK voters in Aberdeen South must unite on Thursday and vote for Douglas Lumsden to be their new MP.
“If they vote for any other party, including Reform, then they will wake up on Friday morning with another SNP MP.
“Douglas Lumsden is the only candidate who can be trusted to reverse the reckless policies from the SNP and Labour that are destroying the oil and gas sector.”
Mr Lumsden said he was “delighted” the former leader would join him on the campaign trail, adding: “Every vote will count in Aberdeen South on June 18 and I’m determined to fight for every single one.
“This by-election is personal for me having worked in the industry for 25 years. I’m angry about what anti-oil-and-gas SNP and Labour politicians are doing to this city.
“If all pro-UK voters unite behind me, then Aberdeen South can have an MP who will always stand up for oil and gas workers, and back plans to get Britain drilling again.”
