Tories win historic Aberdeen South by-election as voters back North Sea over Net Zero

The Conservatives have achieved a landmark win in the Aberdeen South by-election, in what was described as a referendum on North Sea oil.Scottish Tory MSP Douglas Lumsden seized the seat from the SNP by more than 6,000 votes, with 14,308 on the night.The Scottish National Party received 8,248 seats, Reform UK received 2,478, Scottish Liberal Democrats received 1,270, and Scottish Greens received 974 seats."The people of Aberdeen have given a resounding answer: That we back the oil and gas industry," Mr Lumsden said after the count was read out.He later told GB News his win served as a message to Ed Miliband, Sir Keir Starmer: That the destruction of North Sea oil must stop. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say Meanwhile in Arbroath and Broughty Ferry, the second Scottish referendum of the night, the SNP retained its seat - with Lara Bird elected to the Commons.The SNP candidate received 9,802 votes, with the Conservatives receiving 4,524, Reform UK receiving 4,341, Labour receiving 3,651, and the Liberal Democrats receiving 1,452.Turnout was 24,470, representing 31.94 per cent of the constituency.The historic Aberdeen win marks only the fifth time this century the Tories have gained a seat at a Westminster by-election.The last time was Hartlepool in May 2021, when Jill Mortimer took the seat from Labour with a swing of almost 16 per cent, a result which piled pressure on Sir Keir Starmer, who was then leader of the opposition.This marks the first Conservative win in a Scottish by-election since 1967.Campaigning in Aberdeen South, formerly held by SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn, had centred on one central issue - North Sea oil and gas.Mr Lumsden was supported by Kemi Badenoch on the campaign trail, who previously described not drilling for oil as “utter madness”.NORTH SEA OIL - READ MORE:Labour blamed for delaying 100 million barrels of North Sea oil as investment 'could collapse before 2030'BP 'in talks to sell its North Sea holdings' after more than 60 years operatingTories to force vote on opening up the North Sea as Labour confirms new licences banJust last month, she said: “Voters in Aberdeen South can turn this by-election into a referendum on the future of the North Sea oil and gas industry.Mr Lumsden said in his speech that Mrs Badenoch was on a flight when a fellow passenger "pleaded" with her to "save Aberdeen and the oil and the gas industry"."What has been made clear here tonight is that the Labour and the SNP governments must act to the end the wilful destruction of the energy industry," he added.Tory sources told GB News the issue of oil and gas continuously came up on the door, with one in three voters mentioning the subject.Mr Flynn stood down last month after he was elected as an MSP and was quickly appointed Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport in Holyrood.He described the election on social media as a “tough night” for the SNP and its candidate former SNP MP Richard Thomson, admitting it needed some heavy reflection.“We lost Aberdeen South to the Tories in 2017, and we won it back two years later,” he added.“I've no doubt we can do so again. If we get things right."The Arbroath and Broughty Ferry seat was vacated by the SNP's Stephen Gethins, who also left Westminster for Holyrood.Labour more or less abandoned the two Scottish by-elections, with one senior source previously admitting to GB News they did not know who their candidates were - Nurul Hoque Ali for Aberdeen South and Heather Doran for Arbroath and Broughty Ferry, to name them.Reacting to the Tories' victory in Aberdeen, Shadow Scottish Secretary Andrew Bowie said: "This is an extraordinary victory for Douglas Lumsden MP and the Conservatives. "This is the first time that the Conservative Party has gained a Westminster Parliamentary by-election in Scotland since 1967."We said this election was a referendum on the future of North Sea oil and gas, and Aberdeen has spoken loud and clear. Let’s get Britain drilling now."I look forward to Douglas joining the Conservative team in Westminster, where I know he will work tirelessly to hold Ed Miliband to account and stand up for the people of Aberdeen." Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter