Future of oil and gas industry 'on the line' as polls open in by-elections

The Scottish Conservatives are hoping to cause an upset in Aberdeen South by taking the seat from the SNP.

Meanwhile, the Nationalists are expected to retain Arbroath and Broughty Ferry following the collapse of Labour’s support.

The contests are taking place on the same day as the one in Makerfield, Greater Manchester, which has dominated national media attention as Labour’s Andy Burnham seeks a route back to Westminster.

However, the Aberdeen South race - which was sparked by the SNP’s Stephen Flynn making the jump to Holyrood at last month’s election - has also grabbed headlines due to the debate over the future of the North Sea sector.

“The future of our oil and gas industry is on the line in today’s by-election in Aberdeen South,” said Tory candidate Douglas Lumsden.

“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 1,000 jobs being lost every month.”

He added: “The only way to save our oil and gas industry is to unite behind me and the Scottish Conservatives in Aberdeen South today. The stakes in this by-election really could not be higher.”

First Minister John Swinney, who was campaigning in Aberdeen on Wednesday, said the SNP wanted to see an end to the “disastrous” energy profits levy, which was introduced as a temporary measure applying to profits made from extracting UK oil and gas.

SNP candidate Richard Thomson, a former MP for Gordon, 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.”

Reform UK has been accused of abandoning the race in Aberdeen after encouraging activists to campaign in Makerfield.