Kemi Badenoch: Aberdeen South byelection could give 'the kiss of life' to oil and gas sector

A victory for the Scottish Conservatives in the Aberdeen South byelection could give the “kiss of life” to the North Sea oil and gas industry, Kemi Badenoch has said.  

The Conservative leader is expected to visit the constituency today, ahead of polling day on Thursday.

The byelection is expected to be a tight contest between the SNP and the Conservatives.

Badenoch has said that a win for her party in SNP MSP Stephen Flynn’s old Westminster seat would signal to Labour and the SNP that their position of no new oil and gas drilling licenses must be reversed.

The Conservatives have also criticised the windfall tax on the industry, which the SNP oppose – arguing that it is decimating communities across the North East of Scotland.

Badenoch said: “Every time I visit Aberdeen, people tell me that the city is on its knees because Labour and the SNP are killing the oil and gas industry that’s its economic lifeblood.

“Labour’s crazy ban on new drilling licences, which the SNP support, must end now. The same goes for the windfall tax.

“The Conservative Party is proudly pro-drilling because it’s crucial to the North East economy and essential for the nation’s energy security.

“If voters in Aberdeen South choose Douglas Lumsden as their MP on Thursday, it will send a deafening message that the SNP and Labour would ignore at their peril.

“By electing Douglas, who worked in the sector for two decades, voters could give the kiss of life to North Sea oil and gas and help revitalise Aberdeen.”

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay, who is expected to join Badenoch on her visit, has urged pro-union voters to unite behind his party, warning that a split in that portion of the vote would benefit the SNP.    

He said: “Thursday’s by-election is a referendum on the future of North Sea oil and gas.

“Kemi is a champion for oil and gas workers and the people of Aberdeen South have the chance to elect Douglas Lumsden - another great champion - as their MP.

“This election is on a knife-edge between the Scottish Conservatives and the SNP so it’s essential for pro-UK voters to unite behind Douglas.

“If they split the vote by backing any other party, they’ll end up with an SNP MP who won’t stand up for oil and gas jobs.”