Aberdeen South's Diverse Concerns
Aberdeen South is central to the offshore energy sector, yet its electorate remains deeply concerned about local issues on land.
The constituency includes parts of the city's commuter belt—Peterculter, Milltimber, and Bieldside—as well as urban harbour areas like Torry.
Residents in Torry continue to cope with the consequences of discovering that their homes were constructed using potentially hazardous building materials.
In recent years, £420 million has been invested in the South Harbour development at the Port of Aberdeen, enabling many large cruise ships to dock in the city. However, the port has been impacted by the decline in oil and gas activities.
Port of Aberdeen executives believe South Harbour has not yet reached its full potential and hope the incoming MP will advocate for the port's interests.
By-Election Context
Voters in Aberdeen South will cast their ballots on Thursday, 18 June, alongside two other UK by-elections: one in Arbroath and Broughty Ferry, and a high-profile contest in Makerfield, Greater Manchester.
The Makerfield election could have significant political consequences, with Andy Burnham seeking a Westminster seat to challenge the Labour Party.
Nonetheless, Aberdeen South's importance should not be underestimated. The seat has been held by SNP MP Stephen Flynn since 2019.
In the 2024 General Election, Flynn secured 32.8% of the vote, leading Labour and the Conservatives. Following his recent election as an MSP, the parliamentary seat is now vacant.
Calls for a Comprehensive Energy Strategy
Bob Sanguinetti, chief executive of the Port of Aberdeen, urges the successful candidate to promote a "robust and holistic energy strategy."
"We could increase the number of jobs in the region by 9,000, but we need that all-inclusive energy strategy to work right the way across from oil and gas all the way to renewables," he told BBC Scotland News.
"Last year we saw a drop in oil and gas activity of between 15% and 20%, that's quite significant.
"And at the same time, we're seeing that renewable energy - offshore wind - remains over the horizon, and we're unlikely to see activity at scale in offshore wind for a number of years yet.
"So, we've got the challenge of trying to pull those two together and what we're seeing is significant job losses in the region."
Energy Sector Challenges
North Sea oil and gas production has been declining for over 25 years since peaking in 1999.
While alternative energy sectors have grown, many new jobs have been created outside the northeast, in cities such as Glasgow and Edinburgh.
An energy profits levy, or windfall tax, was introduced in 2022, but the industry reports thousands of job losses due to the pressures it imposes.
The UK government plans to phase out the windfall tax by 2030.
Sanguinetti emphasized the need for the new MP to advocate for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire in energy matters and to collaborate with governments in London and Edinburgh for a comprehensive energy approach.
Community Impact in Torry
St Fittick's Park, located near the harbour in Torry, is part of an area that has undergone significant change.
Many residents have relocated from the Balnagask area after their homes were found to contain reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (Raac), a potentially dangerous material.
The community has experienced considerable upheaval, with residents concerned about preserving their history and heritage.
Local campaigns aim to prevent further industrial development of this green space.
Ishbel Shand, a resident, offers a distinct perspective on energy priorities for the new MP.
"We have to look at a genuine just transition and a genuine future for folk in Aberdeen that means diversifying the economy - not hanging on to a sunset industry," she said.
"Pay for kids to become electricians, pay for apprenticeships for real skills that we need. Our granite heritage is falling apart."
Ian Baird, another local resident, stresses the importance of addressing broader community needs.
"This is a constituency with many issues and problems to address and it's being reduced to something very specific about offshore jobs," he said.
"To sustain it depends what's happening on land.
"I wish politicians would start looking at the needs of communities."
Business Perspectives
Norman Esslemont, owner of a clothing shop in Aberdeen city centre, focuses on North Sea investment as a priority for the incoming MP.
"Encourage more North Sea investment, reduce the windfall tax, and that would encourage businesses to invest in the north east," he stated.
Esslemont expressed urgency regarding the issue.
"Get the North Sea sorted out," he said.
By-Election Details
Seven candidates are standing in the Aberdeen South by-election.
Voters are required to present photo identification at polling stations.
