The SNP candidate for next week’s Aberdeen South by-election mentioned independence more times than oil and gas when he was previously a North East MP, new research from the Scottish Conservatives has uncovered today.
Richard Thomson – who represented the Gordon constituency between 2019 and 2024, before being defeated by Scottish Conservative MP Harriet Cross – mentioned independence 40 times during that period.
However, the party’s analysis of Hansard records show Thomson only referred to oil and gas 24 times during his five years as an MP.
In sharp contrast, Scottish Conservative Aberdeen South candidate Douglas Lumsden has highlighted oil and gas 165 times since being elected as a North East MSP in the 2021 Scottish Parliament election.
Lumsden says the findings are “damning proof” that SNP MPs will always prioritise independence above any other issue, including the future of the oil and gas sector.
He says that standing up for oil and gas workers is personal to him, having worked in the industry for 25 years before he entered politics, and that their interests will always be a priority for him as Aberdeen South’s MP.
Lumsden urged voters to unite behind him and the Scottish Conservatives to prevent Thomson “sneaking in by the back door” next week.
Scottish Conservative candidate for Aberdeen South Douglas Lumsden said: “These findings are damning proof that if he is elected next week Richard Thomson will put independence above all else.
“When he was fortunate enough to be a North East MP previously, he should have been fighting tooth and nail for oil and gas workers, but instead he was too busy obsessing about breaking up the United Kingdom.
“The future of the sector is personal to me. I worked in oil and gas for 25 years before entering politics and I am appalled at how the SNP and Labour are destroying this industry.
“Standing up for oil and gas workers and backing new drilling will always be my top priority if I am elected as Aberdeen South’s new MP.
“The only way to ensure that happens and avoid an SNP MP sneaking in by the back door is for pro-UK voters to unite behind me and the Scottish Conservatives.”