Tories and SNP win Scottish by-elections - as Labour come fourth in both races

The Scottish Conservatives have won the Aberdeen South by-election - taking the seat from the SNP.

This is the first time the Tories have managed to seize a Scottish seat at a parliamentary by-election since 1967.

Scottish Tory MSP Douglas Lumsden will now take a seat in Westminster. He secured 14,308 votes - a share of almost 50% - resulting in a majority of 6,050.

The SNP were a distant second on 8,258 votes, with Reform coming third and Labour fourth.

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Speaking following the decisive victory, Mr Lumsden said: "I promise that I will be a strong voice for this city, standing up for you, your families and your livelihoods against short-sighted policies.

"Now, we said at the start of this campaign that it is a referendum on the oil and gas industry, and the people of Aberdeen have given a resounding answer that we back the oil and gas industry."

The Scottish Conservatives had come third in this seat during the 2024 general election, but shot ahead to poll position in Thursday's vote by campaigning for drilling in the North Sea to be extended.

This was one of the three by-elections taking place on Thursday, and two ballots in Scotland were triggered by the resignation of SNP MPs who now have seats in Holyrood.

In Arbroath and Broughty Ferry, Lara Bird has successfully held the seat for the SNP - securing 9,802 votes and a majority of 4,961.

Reform were a distant second here on 4,841 votes - with the Scottish Conservatives third and Labour once again finishing fourth.

In her victory speech, Ms Bird said: "The people of Arbroath and Broughty Ferry have rejected the politics of division and hate.

"We have demonstrated that our community is inclusive, hopeful, and proud, and that while there are challenges that we must face, we will face them together and not allow others to turn us against each other."

Meanwhile, Andy Burnham emerged victorious in the Makerfield by-election, paving the way for him to challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the leadership of the Labour Party.

Mr Burnham, who will now be forced to step down from his role as Greater Manchester mayor, won 24,927 votes, giving him a majority of 9,231.

Reform UK's Robert Kenyon, who had hoped to seize the constituency from Labour, received 15,696 votes.

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(c) Sky News 2026: Tories and SNP win Scottish by-elections - as Labour come fourth in both races