Kemi Badenoch has declared that the Conservative Party is 'working to earn the trust of the country again' following a dramatic by-election victory in Scotland. The Tories captured the Aberdeen South seat from John Swinney's SNP with a majority of over 6,000 votes, marking their first by-election win in Scotland since 1967.
A Seismic Victory
Conservative candidate Douglas Lumsden secured 14,308 votes, while the SNP's vote collapsed from 15,213 in the 2024 general election to 8,258. Lumsden described the result as 'seismic' and called on Labour, which finished fourth, to 'change course on oil and gas' and do more to support the industry.
Badenoch's Statement
Badenoch, who made several campaign visits to the area, said the victory was about 'thousands of jobs in oil and gas across our country' and the future of Aberdeen. She emphasized that 'energy security is national security' and criticized the Labour government's opposition to new oil and gas fields.
'The first duty of any Government is to keep its people safe. The Conservative Party will always put Britain's security first,' Badenoch said. She acknowledged that tactical voting played a role, with some voters backing the Tories due to concerns about Labour's policies or frustration with the SNP.
SNP Reaction
A senior SNP source criticized the party's stance on oil and gas, suggesting voters view it as 'weak.' First Minister John Swinney expressed disappointment, attributing the loss to tactical voting. SNP candidate Richard Thomson noted that the Tories had 'thrown the kitchen sink' at the campaign, but dismissed any impact from Peter Murrell's guilty plea.
Murrell, former SNP chief executive and Nicola Sturgeon's estranged husband, pleaded guilty to embezzling over £400,000 from the party. Thomson said it did not affect the result, as voters had already made up their minds.
SNP Holds Arbroath and Broughty Ferry
In contrast, the SNP successfully held the Arbroath and Broughty Ferry seat, with Lara Bird winning 9,802 votes. Reform's Bill Reid came second with 4,841. Bird acknowledged the Tories' success in Aberdeen but expressed delight at her own victory.
