John Swinney has said the SNP will "consider the implications" of its Aberdeen by-election thrashing as Nationalists engage in a briefing war over who is to blame.
The Tories fought a successful campaign focusing on the future of the North Sea oil and gas sector – with a senior SNP source suggesting voters do not understand the party’s energy policy or view it as "weak".
The First Minister conceded the result of the by-election – held after former SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn won a seat in Holyrood last month – was "obviously a disappointment".
While many had expected a close contest between Swinney’s party and the Tories, in the end Conservative candidate Douglas Lumsden won easily as the SNP vote collapsed. Having polled 15,213 in the 2024 general election, the SNP secured 8,258 votes on Thursday, well short of the Tory total of 14,308 votes.
Swinney's Analysis
The First Minister said the Conservatives were "able to garner tactical voting in their favour" in the by-election. He added: "Also, they were able to capture the anger, the understandable anger, that is felt in Aberdeen and the north east of Scotland around the issues in connection with oil and gas. As a consequence of that, we were not successful last night and we need to consider the implications of that result."
Flynn agreed it was a "tough night" for his party in Aberdeen "that some will need to reflect on, quite heavily". Pressed on the impact that SNP energy policy had had on the result, Swinney said they had "commanded public support" in May’s Holyrood elections.
Energy Policy Under Fire
As it stands, the SNP says that both climate compatibility and issues surrounding energy security have to be considered when new oil and gas developments are being considered – with this stance a softening of the opposition to new drilling outlined by previous SNP leaders Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf. Swinney explained he wants to see an approach to new developments which takes into account "yes, our climate change obligations; yes, the issues of energy security; but also the opportunities to ensure there is a just transition in the north east of Scotland".
As a "central" part of that, he said his party had been calling on the UK Government to end the energy profits levy – also known as the windfall tax – with the First Minister saying this was "undermining – in fact, stopping – investment in the oil and gas sector". However, he said the Conservatives "were able to deliver a tactical voting campaign and also a campaign that captured the issues of anger about oil and gas, and that has resulted in their victory".
Swinney added: "I congratulate them on their victory and obviously my party needs to reflect and consider on all these issues." Speaking for the SNP, he said: "We have all got to consider the implications of the by-election result, and that is what we will do."
