The Scottish Conservatives have selected Douglas Lumsden as their candidate to contest the upcoming Aberdeen South by-election.
The North East regional MSP and party’s shadow energy secretary said he is honoured to have been chosen and is determined to champion the oil and gas industry by winning Aberdeen South.
Before becoming an MSP, Douglas spent 25 years in oil and gas and was co-leader of Aberdeen City Council between 2017 and 2021.
In addition to ending the Energy Profits Levy, his other local priorities include scrapping the city’s bus gates and LEZs, dualling the A96, overhauling crippling business rates on Aberdeen, improving access to healthcare, and pushing for improved rail links for the area.
The by-election will be a close contest between the Conservatives and the SNP after Mr Lumsden’s colleague, Liam Kerr MSP, narrowly missed out on winning Holyrood’s Aberdeen Deeside and North Kincardine seat by just 1,244 votes last week.
Scottish Conservative Douglas Lumsden, who yesterday visited AJT Engineering in Aberdeen with party leader Russell Findlay, said: “I am delighted and honoured to be the Scottish Conservative candidate for Aberdeen South, a constituency which I have close ties to.
“Aberdeen South needs change at Westminster, and this upcoming by-election will be a straight fight between the Scottish Conservatives and the SNP.
“As we saw in the Scottish Parliament election for this area last week, a vote for Reform or anyone else risks letting the SNP win here.
“Labour and the SNP’s reckless opposition to new oil and gas licences in the North Sea is costing jobs and killing investment.
“That is why I will champion our great industry to protect jobs, safeguard our energy security and stabilise investment by ending the Energy Profits Levy.
“As a former co-leader of Aberdeen City Council, I will fight against the SNP’s implementation of bus gates and LEZs to give people the comfort they need to return to our city centre, allowing businesses to thrive again.”
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay MSP added: “I’m delighted that the dynamic Douglas Lumsden has been selected to fight the crucial Aberdeen South by-election.
“After years of Labour and the SNP taking lumps out of our oil and gas sector, this area is in dire need of a local champion who’ll fight tooth and nail for North Sea jobs and the communities that depend on them.
“This contest will be a straight fight between the Scottish Conservatives and the SNP. Voting for Reform risks handing the Nationalists a victory, just like last week when their votes helped Stephen Flynn sneak into Holyrood.”