Former Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson has urged voters in Aberdeen South not to split the unionist vote in next week's by-election, warning that doing so could hand the seat to the SNP.
By-Election Context
Voters will head to the polls on Thursday to elect a replacement for former SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, who was elected to Holyrood and appointed a minister last month. The by-election was triggered by his resignation.
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. Senior Conservative figures are concerned that votes for Reform could split their support and allow the SNP to retain the seat.
Davidson's Warning
Speaking ahead of a visit to the constituency, Baroness Davidson described the result as being "on a knife-edge." She stated: "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 added: "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."
Davidson emphasised that 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."
Lumsden's Response
Mr Lumsden expressed his delight at the former leader's support, saying: "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."
He added: "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."
Reform UK's Position
Reform UK MSP Duncan Massey criticised the SNP and Scottish Tories for having "presided over the decline" of the oil and gas industry, stating that his party "outright rejects this approach."
He argued: "It makes no sense for the United Kingdom to sit on vast oil and gas reserves while importing energy from overseas. Every barrel not produced in the North Sea is replaced by imports. That doesn't reduce global emissions, it simply exports Scottish jobs. That's why Reform UK supports new drilling and long-term investment in the North Sea."
Massey claimed that "energy workers should be backed, not punished," and noted that Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and Scotland leader Malcolm Offord visited Ineos this week. He asserted that "the current net zero agenda is crippling British industry, increasing costs and threatening jobs. Reform UK is the only party prepared to stand up for Scotland's energy sector without apology."
He concluded that only Reform UK's candidate Jo Hart "can be trusted to stand up for Scotland's energy workers."
