Douglas Lumsden has said Aberdeen South voters have delivered a clear verdict in support of the North Sea oil and gas industry after securing a historic victory for the Scottish Conservatives in the constituency.
The result saw Douglas elected as Aberdeen South's new Member of Parliament, marking the first Conservative by-election gain in Scotland for almost six decades and overturning a seat previously held by the SNP.
Throughout the campaign, Douglas argued that the election was a referendum on the future of the North Sea energy sector and the thousands of jobs it supports across Aberdeen and the North East.
Speaking after the result, Douglas said: "The people of Aberdeen have spoken loud and clear that the destruction of the North Sea oil and gas industry must stop now." He added that voters had given a "resounding answer" that they back the oil and gas industry.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, who visited the constituency several times during the campaign, said the result showed that "we have won that referendum on oil and gas". She argued that Aberdeen had sent a message to both Labour and the SNP that the city "will not be ignored" and called for the Rosebank and Jackdaw developments to be approved.
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay joined Douglas and Kemi Badenoch on the campaign trail, backing efforts to make the future of North Sea energy the central issue in the contest.
Douglas said the result should serve as a wake-up call to both of Scotland's governments. He pledged to continue fighting for Aberdeen's energy sector, calling for new licences, an end to punitive taxes on the industry and a long-term strategy that protects jobs, investment and Britain's energy security.
