SNP CONCEDES ABERDEEN SOUTH SEAT TO SCOTTISH CONSERVATIVES

The Scottish National Party has conceded defeat in the Aberdeen South byelection to the Scottish Conservatives. A senior SNP source told the Press Association that it was the "Tories' night" whilst pledging to "win it back in 2029". The Scottish Conservatives deployed substantial campaign resources, with UK party leader Kemi Badenoch visiting the constituency on three occasions. The campaign centred on increased North Sea oil and gas production.

The byelection was triggered after incumbent MP Stephen Flynn stood down in May to take up a seat in the Scottish Parliament, which UK law prohibits him from holding simultaneously with a House of Commons seat. Flynn had retained Aberdeen South in the 2024 general election with a majority of 3,758 votes. Recorded turnout in the byelection stood at 31.4 per cent, representing a decrease of nearly 30 percentage points compared with the general election turnout in the constituency.

An SNP source suggested the result reflected voter dissent regarding Peter Murrell, who held the position of chief executive whilst married to former first minister Nicola Sturgeon. Murrell has been accused of theft involving £400,000 in party funds. The defeat marks a significant reversal for the SNP in a seat it previously held securely.