2026 Aberdeen South by-election
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Aberdeen South constituency
Registered 76,033
Turnout 28,897
38.0% (Decrease21.9 pp)
  First party Second party
 
Candidate Douglas Lumsden Richard Thomson
Party Conservative SNP
Popular vote 14,308 8,258
Percentage 49.5% 28.6%
Swing Increase 25.1 pp Decrease 4.3 pp
  Third party Fourth party
 
Candidate Jo Hart Nurul Hoque Ali
Party Reform Labour
Popular vote 2,478 1,550
Percentage 8.6% 5.4%
Swing Increase 1.7 pp Decrease 19.4 pp
Boundary of the Aberdeen South constituency in Scotland
MP before election

Stephen Flynn
SNP

 Elected MP

Douglas Lumsden
Conservative

A by-election for the United Kingdom parliamentary constituency of Aberdeen South was held on 18 June 2026 following the resignation of Stephen Flynn, Member of Parliament (MP) for the Scottish National Party (SNP), upon being elected to the Scottish Parliament. It was won by Conservative candidate Douglas Lumsden in the party's first gain at a Scottish by-election since 1967,[1] and the first time ever in the UK party's history that it had won any parliamentary by-election from third place.

Flynn resigned after having been elected as a member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) at the 2026 Scottish Parliament election on 7 May; the Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Act 2025 prohibits individuals from serving simultaneously as an MP and an MSP.[2][3]

The vote was one of three Westminster by-elections taking place on the same day; the others being in Arbroath and Broughty Ferry and in Makerfield.

Background

The by-election occurred on the same day as UK parliamentary by-elections in Arbroath and Broughty Ferry and in Makerfield. In accordance with the Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Act 2025,[4] which bars individuals from simultaneously holding both Holyrood and Westminster seats, Flynn resigned his House of Commons position on 14 May 2026.[3][5]

Aberdeen South was first contested at the 1885 general election.[6] It contains southern areas in the city of Aberdeen, including the wards of George Street/Harbour, Lower Deeside, Hazlehead/Queens Cross/Countesswells, Airyhall/Broomhill/Garthdee, Torry/Ferryhill and Kincorth/Nigg/Cove.[7]

The constituency's inhabitants are 86% ethnically White, with 67% categorised as social grades A, B and C1. The average household income is £35,675, below the average for Great Britain as a whole but above that for Scotland, and the home-ownership rate is 59%, lower than both the Scotland and Great Britain averages. In the 2016 membership referendum, in which the UK voted to leave the European Union (EU), 66% of those who voted in Aberdeen South favoured remaining in the EU.[8]

Historically, Aberdeen South has been won by the Liberal, the Conservative and Unionist and the Labour parties. Anne Begg of Labour was elected at the 1997 general election, defeating the incumbent Conservative MP and government minister Raymond Robertson. Begg was returned in 2001, 2005 and 2010. At the 2015 general election, Begg lost her seat to the Scottish National Party (SNP) candidate, Callum McCaig. At the 2017 general election, McCaig lost his seat in a surprise result to the Conservative candidate, Ross Thomson.[9] Flynn defeated Thomson at the 2019 general election.[10] At the 2024 general election, Flynn was returned as MP for Aberdeen South, one of only nine seats to elect an SNP candidate.[11] Flynn had a majority of 3,758 votes.[12] He returned as Leader of the Scottish National Party in the House of Commons.[13] At the 2026 Scottish Parliament election, he was elected MSP for Aberdeen Deeside and North Kincardine.[14]

Candidates

Alliance for Democracy and Freedom

David Ballantine was the Alliance for Democracy and Freedom candidate.[15] He came sixth in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse at the 2026 Scottish Parliament election[16] and earlier stood in Edinburgh South West for the Brexit Party at the 2019 general election, again coming sixth.[17]

Conservative

On 12 May Douglas Lumsden, a Conservative MSP for North East Scotland who had returned to the Scottish Parliament, announced his intention to contest the by-election,[18] and he was selected by Aberdeen Conservatives as their candidate on 15 May.[19] He publicly urged Reform UK supporters to back him in a tactical vote.[20] At the 2026 Scottish Parliament election, the Conservatives finished 1,244 votes behind the SNP in the overlapping seat of Aberdeen Deeside and North Kincardine, with Reform UK third.[21]

Labour

On 22 May Scottish Labour announced Nurul Hoque Ali as its candidate for the by-election.[22] He contested Gordon and Buchan at the 2024 general election, finishing fourth,[23] and represents Bridge of Don ward on Aberdeen City Council.

Liberal Democrats

On 22 May, the Scottish Liberal Democrats announced that Mel Sullivan would be their candidate for the by-election.[24] Sullivan is a councillor for North Kincardine and was the party's candidate for Aberdeen Deeside and North Kincardine in the 2026 Scottish Parliament election.

Reform UK

On 18 May Reform UK announced Jo Hart, a former nurse, as its candidate. Hart had previously stood at the 2026 Scottish Parliament election for Aberdeenshire West, coming third behind the Conservatives and SNP. She also stood at the 2024 general election in Aberdeenshire North and Moray East, again coming third behind the SNP and Conservatives. Hart previously attracted controversy from past comments criticising the British royal family, which include her describing them as "benefits scroungers",[25] as well as for comments concerning 5G masts.[26]

Scottish Greens

On 22 May the Scottish Greens announced Jorg Shelton-Eckstein as their candidate.[27]

Scottish National Party

On 18 May Richard Thomson, former SNP MP for Gordon, announced his candidacy for the by-election.[28] Thomson served as MP for Gordon from 2019 until 2024, when he was defeated by the Conservative Harriet Cross in the new constituency of Gordon and Buchan. Thomson unsuccessfully attempted to stand as an SNP candidate at the 2026 Scottish Parliament election, seeking the nomination for Angus North and Mearns.[29] On 20 May Thomson was announced as the party's candidate.

Campaign

The by-election campaign had been described as a "referendum" on the oil and gas industry.[30] Kemi Badenoch, the leader of the Conservative Party, visited Aberdeen on three separate occasions during the campaign period to support the party's candidate, Douglas Lumsden.[31][32] The SNP's campaign was reportedly negatively impacted by Operation Branchform.[33]

Result

2026 Aberdeen South by-election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Conservative Douglas Lumsden 14,308 49.5 +25.1
SNP Richard Thomson 8,258 28.6 −4.3
Reform Jo Hart 2,478 8.6 +1.7
Labour Nurul Hoque Ali 1,550 5.4 −19.4
Liberal Democrats Mel Sullivan 1,270 4.4 −1.9
Green Jorg Shelton-Eckstein 974 3.4 −0.1
ADF David Ballantine 59 0.2 New
Rejected ballots 53 0.18
Majority 6,050 20.9 N/A
Turnout 28,897 38.0 −21.9
Registered electors 76,033
Conservative gain from SNP Swing 14.7

Previous result

2024 general election: Aberdeen South[34][35]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SNP Stephen Flynn 15,213 32.8 −12.5
Labour M. Tauqeer Malik 11,455 24.7 +15.9
Conservative John Wheeler 11,300 24.4 −10.0
Reform Michael Pearce 3,199 6.9 +6.5
Liberal Democrats Jeff Goodhall 2,921 6.3 −4.4
Green Guy Ingerson 1,609 3.5 +3.0
Scottish Family Graeme Craib 423 0.9 N/A
Independent Sophie Molly 225 0.5 N/A
Majority 3,758 8.1 −2.8
Turnout 46,345 59.9
SNP hold Swing −14.2

See also

  • 2026 Arbroath and Broughty Ferry by-election (same day)
  • 2026 Makerfield by-election (same day)
  • List of United Kingdom by-elections (2010–present)

References

  1. ^ Cochrane, Angus (19 June 2026). "Scottish Tories win first Westminster by-election in more than 50 years". BBC News. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  2. ^ Bowie, Justin (7 May 2026). "How Stephen Flynn win in Aberdeen will trigger Westminster by-election – and leadership shake-up". The Press and Journal. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  3. ^ a b Cochrane, Angus (8 May 2026). "SNP's Stephen Flynn wins Aberdeen seat in Holyrood election". BBC News. Retrieved 8 May 2026.
  4. ^ "Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Act 2025". www.legislation.gov.uk. Expert Participation. Archived from the original on 5 March 2026. Retrieved 14 May 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  5. ^ "Manor of Northstead". GOV.UK. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
  6. ^ 2023 Review UK Parliament constituencies Boundary Commission for Scotland
  7. ^ "Aberdeen South Constituency". Election Polling. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  8. ^ "Aberdeen South: Seat Details". Electoral Calculus. 9 May 2026.
  9. ^ "Alex Salmond and Angus Robertson lose seats to Conservatives". BBC News. 9 May 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2026.
  10. ^ "The 2026 Scottish Parliament Election as it happened across Dundee, Perth, Angus, Fife and Stirling". The Courier. 9 May 2026. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
  11. ^ "General election 2024 results in maps and charts". BBC News. 4 July 2024. Retrieved 9 May 2026.
  12. ^ "Aberdeen South - General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 10 May 2026.
  13. ^ PA Media (12 May 2026). "SNP announces new Westminster leader as Stephen Flynn elected to Holyrood". STV News. Retrieved 15 May 2026.
  14. ^ Nutt, Kathleen (8 May 2026). "The SNP's Stephen Flynn is elected to Holyrood and asked if he wants to be FM". The Herald. Retrieved 15 May 2026.
  15. ^ Kerr, Andrew (22 May 2026). "Candidates for by-elections to replace former MPs announced". BBC News. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  16. ^ "Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse - Scottish Parliament constituency". BBC News. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  17. ^ "Scottish Labour leader harassed by 'racist bully'". The Independent. 24 March 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  18. ^ Bowie, Justin (12 May 2026). "Aberdeen Tory MSP eyes switch to Westminster FOUR days after being elected". The Press and Journal. Retrieved 15 May 2026.
  19. ^ Cromar, Chris (15 May 2026). "North-east Conservative MSP announced as candidate for Aberdeen South by-election". The Press and Journal. Retrieved 15 May 2026.
  20. ^ Andonova, Denny (15 May 2026). "Aberdeen South by-election hopeful pleads for Reform voter help to beat SNP". The Press and Journal. Retrieved 15 May 2026.
  21. ^ "SNP's Stephen Flynn wins Aberdeen seat in Holyrood election". BBC News. 8 May 2026. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
  22. ^ @ScottishLabour (22 May 2026). "Congratulations Nurul Hoque Ali on becoming the Scottish Labour candidate for Aberdeen South!" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).
  23. ^ "Gordon and Buchan - General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  24. ^ Stephen, Phyllis (22 May 2026). "LibDems choose candidate for Aberdeen South by election". Deadline News. Retrieved 17 June 2026.
  25. ^ Andonova, Denny (18 May 2026). "Former Inverurie nurse to stand in Aberdeen South for Reform". The P&J. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  26. ^ "Reform candidate describes actors as 'satanic worshipping trash' in LinkedIn post". The Herald. 18 May 2026. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  27. ^ "Scottish Greens announce candidate for Aberdeen South by-election". 22 May 2026. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  28. ^ Bowie, Justin; Philip, Andy (19 May 2026). "Aberdeen South by-election date revealed after Stephen Flynn resignation". The P&J. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
  29. ^ Merson, Adele (7 April 2025). "Exclusive: Ex-Aberdeenshire MP Richard Thomson eyes Holyrood comeback in Angus North and Mearns". Press and Journal. Retrieved 19 May 2026.
  30. ^ Philip, Andy (30 May 2026). "Tories target oil workers with open letter as John Swinney enters Aberdeen South by-election contest". The Press and Journal. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
  31. ^ Meighan, Craig (22 May 2026). "Kemi Badenoch: Aberdeen is dying because of the SNP". The Standard. Retrieved 23 May 2026.
  32. ^ "Tories pick themselves up off the floor with unexpected Scottish by-election win". BBC News. 19 June 2026. Retrieved 19 June 2026.
  33. ^ https://financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/scottish-nationalists-beaten-in-by-election-after-money-scandal
  34. ^ "General Election 2024: Aberdeen results". Aberdeen City Council. 10 May 2024. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  35. ^ "Aberdeen South – General election results 2024". BBC News. Retrieved 5 July 2024.