VOTERS in constituencies across the UK go to the polls today to decide the outcomes of three Westminster by-elections.
In Aberdeen South, the SNP are standing former MP Richard Thomson against the Tories’ Douglas Lumsden, currently an MSP for the North East region.
The contest has seen both parties compete to portray themselves as the greatest champion of the North Sea oil and gas sector.
Thomson said: “The SNP stands to protect Scotland’s workers, Scotland’s economy and the resources our great country has been blessed with – that is exactly why we will not let Westminster destroy our oil and gas industry.
“For decades the Westminster parties in all their different guises have seen our oil and gas as one thing and one thing only – an asset to be exploited and stolen before the eyes of the Scottish people. That story of theft must be brought to an end.
“The Tories destroyed 70,000 oil and gas jobs and their hated windfall tax is ruining 1000 jobs a month while Nigel Farage would ruin 50,000 renewables jobs overnight – we cannot let them get their hands on Aberdeen South.
“This is a proud city and oil and gas workers are my priority – the wealth of energy that flows through Aberdeen should enrich our people and ensure jobs for generations to come, but our people have been betrayed by Westminster politicians that have syphoned off £400bn, but let job losses pile high.”
He added that “only the SNP can send Nigel Farage and the Tories packing” in Aberdeen.
Lumsden said: “The future of our oil and gas industry is on the line in today’s by-election in Aberdeen South.
“This neck-and-neck race between me and the SNP will determine whether oil and gas workers have an MP who will champion them at every turn, or a nationalist who will only accelerate the North Sea’s decline.
“The hostile policies of both the SNP and Labour, with their refusal to back new drilling, is economic vandalism at a time when we should be maximising the resources we have. The future of the sector is personal to me, having worked in the industry for 25 years. It is devastating to see SNP and Labour politicians accept 1000 jobs being lost every month.”
Lumsden highlighted Labour’s opposition to new oil and gas exploration licences and the SNP’s “presumption against” new fossil fuel projects such as Rosebank and Jackdaw.
In Arbroath and Broughty Ferry, voters will choose between the SNP’s Lara Bird, Labour’s Heather Doran, the Tories’ Jack Cruickshanks, Bill Reid for Reform UK or the LibDem candidate Tanvir Ahmad.
The Scottish by-elections are being held to replace Stephen Flynn and Stephen Gethins who quit their Westminster seats after being elected to Holyrood last month.
Meanwhile in Makerfield, the contest is between Labour’s Andy Burnham and Robert Kenyon for Reform UK.
The Greater Manchester Mayor has said he would seek to challenge Keir Starmer for the premiership if he gets back into the Commons.
Kenyon’s campaign has sparked intense controversy because of sexist comments he has made on social media.
