The Conservatives have claimed their first by-election gain in Scotland since 1967 as the SNP vote collapsed. Tory MSP Douglas Lumsden secured the seat previously held by former SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, who acknowledged that some in his party will need to "reflect" on the result.
On a turnout of 38%, Mr Lumsden won 14,308 votes, while the SNP's share dropped sharply from 15,213 in 2024 to just 8,258 in Thursday's by-election. In his victory speech, the newly-elected MP declared that the people of Aberdeen had spoken "loud and clear" that the "destruction of the North Sea oil and gas industry must stop now."
He added: "We said at the start of this campaign that it is a referendum on the oil and gas industry and the people of Aberdeen have given a resounding answer that we back the oil and gas industry."
The SNP did manage to hold onto Arbroath and Broughty Ferry, with Lara Bird taking the seat vacated by Stephen Gethins, who, like Mr Flynn, left Westminster for Holyrood.
