My congratulations to our new Aberdeen South MP Douglas Lumsden.
A truly immense team effort secured this resounding Scottish Conservative win.
Our party will keep fighting for oil and gas and standing up to the SNP and Labour.
This is a significant result, and I want to start by congratulating @DLumsden_MSP on becoming the new Member of Parliament for Aberdeen South and the newest Conservative MP!
Makerfield was about one man’s job.
Aberdeen South was about thousands of jobs in oil and gas across our country and the future of an entire city.
Yesterday, the people of Aberdeen sent a message on behalf of the whole country. Energy security is national security. They know it is common sense to use our own oil and gas rather than importing it from overseas. They know it is madness to make ourselves poorer, weaker and more dependent at a time when even the government’s own intelligence says we are under threat. The first duty of any government is to keep its people safe. The Conservative Party will always put Britain’s security first.
What makes this result particularly significant is that many people who voted Conservative today have never voted Conservative before. I want to thank every one of them.
Many will have voted for us because they care deeply about Aberdeen and its future. Many will have voted for us because they are sick of the SNP’s shenanigans. Others because they are worried about what Labour’s policies mean for their jobs and livelihoods. Many voted for us because they wanted a strong local champion.
Douglas is that champion. He has lived in Aberdeen all his life. He spent two decades working in the oil and gas industry. He knows this city, he knows its people, and throughout this campaign he brought energy, optimism and a genuine belief in Aberdeen’s future. Wherever he went, he had a smile on his face and a positive message about what this great city can achieve.
The Conservative Party is working to earn the trust of the country again. I am grateful and humbled that Aberdeen looked at the choice before them and decided that the Conservative Party was the party that would fight for families, workers and business.
Thank you, Aberdeen. I will never stop fighting for you. Douglas will never stop fighting for you.
The Conservative Party will keep fighting for common sense, a stronger economy and a stronger country.
For the sake of education.
For the sake of healthcare.
For the sake of rural communities.
For the sake of a lowered tax burden.
For the sake of business & highstreets.
For the sake of victims & justice.
For the sake of Scotland, vote @ScotTories to get rid of the SNP on May 7th.
Kemi Badenoch's recent debate with Martin Lewis is exactly the kind of engagement politics needs right now.
Having honest discussions with experts who have a proven track record of standing up for the public is a genuine way to start solving the many issues we face. I'd love to see more of this from every politician.
As far as I'm aware, Kemi is the first to propose a concrete solution to the student loan problem and the first to be willing to debate it live on air.
She deserves a lot of respect for that.
@on_lothianbuses credit to your driver on the southbound 27 that left the bottom of Dundas St moments ago. Just saw him take money out his own pocket to pay the fare of a young lad who had lost his card and needed to get home. Hope you can find a way to acknowledge his generosity
Income Tax. VAT. National Insurance.
Four months ago, the PM ruled out raising these taxes. Today, he won’t.
Why? Because Labour’s high taxes and out-of-control spending have wrecked the economy, and they're coming back for more. Nobody voted for this.
Ex-Tory MP Peter Gibson takes a swipe at those defecting to Reform UK.
He tells me on @bbc5live:
"Every single day there's somebody says to me, when are you doing it? Why haven't you gone yet? You'd stand a far better chance in getting back if you stood for Reform.
"And what I say to those people is, 'do you really want politicians who simply jump on the latest bandwagon in order to ensure that their careers can continue regardless of which flag they are flying?'
"I've been a member of the Conservative Party since I was 16 years of age. I have been through some dark, miserable times. I've seen elections lost and elections won and there is a real important part of our politics... and that's loyalty and commitment and adherence to a set of principles and values. So Matt, I won't be jumping ship anytime soon."
Spot of leafleting this morning ahead of my “marathon” 26.2 mile walk later on @WalktheWalk#moonwalkscot
🚶♀️Walking through the streets of Edinburgh to raise funds to fight cancer!
We cannot allow the city to become yet another failed SNP experiment at the expense of residents and visitors, especially for a scheme which in Glasgow enabled no rehab referrals and 17 overdoses
2/2
https://t.co/GcrZ307v2u
After the complete failure of the Glasgow scheme, it is incredible that anyone would consider bringing this to Edinburgh. The old town is home to countless families, is a major visitor destination and is at the heart of Scotland's history. 1/2
https://t.co/tjzIWGfFKZ
I should actually say that this latest tram debacle will cost nearly £3bn
But what’s a £1billion or £900million when we’re facing budget crisis left right and centre
🌦️Managed to squeeze in a spot of deliveries whilst dodging the showers this morning across Colinton and Hailes.
🙏Thanks to everyone that stopped to chat.
A stroll through #Craiglockhart & #Colinton Dells this morning & can report all bridges across #WaterOfLeith are open (some still awaiting full repair)
Chatter from a children’s club in the water sparked memories of working at @MillontheBrue in Somerset.
@WOLCT
From Gretna to Sanquhar, I’ve been out chapping on doors with a top Scottish Conservative team.
The message on the doorsteps is clear: we need to stop @TheSNP winning Dumfriesshire next May - and only a vote for @ScotTories can deliver that.
What a privilege to attend this year's Royal Garden Party @ Palace of Holyroodhouse.
🌥️Weather held up
🎺The brass bands were in great tune
👑The King spoke to delighted people beside us
😋The food was excellent but sadly didn't stay on our plates long enough for a photo!