The Scottish Conservatives won Aberdeen South in a by-election on 19 June, with a majority of over 6,000 votes. It was their first time winning a Westminster by-election in Scotland in more than 50 years, according to The Telegraph.

That same night, the SNP held onto Arbroath and Broughty Ferry, with candidate Lara Bird winning, according to The National. So one party gained a seat, the other kept one. Different results on the same evening.

Aberdeen South: A Significant Conservative Victory

A majority of 6,000 votes in a by-election is a substantial win, not a narrow one. The SNP had held this seat before, so this result means a large number of voters switched away from them—not just a small drift. Whether people were unhappy with the SNP's record, worried about oil-and-gas jobs in the area, or simply voting differently mid-term is unclear right now.

What matters is the historical significance. The Scottish Conservatives have not won a Westminster by-election in Scotland since before the Scottish Parliament was created in 1999. That is over a quarter-century. Lumsden's win does not undo that history, but it gives the party something concrete to point to as Scottish Parliament elections approach in 2026.

Aberdeen South is in Scotland's north-east, a region built on energy, fishing and farming. It is genuinely competitive politically—different parts have elected Conservatives, Labour and the SNP at different times. This makes a Conservative win here more believable than it would be in, for example, central Glasgow.

Arbroath and Broughty Ferry: SNP Keeps Its Seat

The SNP keeping Arbroath and Broughty Ferry on the same night matters because it means the evening is not simply bad news for them. Lara Bird, who won for the SNP, is a working barrister—a lawyer in private practice—who stood as a part-time candidate. The SNP increasingly chooses candidates with professional careers outside politics. Whether this is deliberate strategy or simply who is available is not something the party often discusses.

Arbroath covers parts of Scotland where the SNP is traditionally strong—Angus and areas near Dundee have consistently elected SNP representatives. A win here was expected and that is what happened.

What Both Results Mean

Put together, these two by-elections show that Scottish politics is competitive. No single party wins everywhere. The Conservatives gained a seat; the SNP held a seat. Labour, which has been gradually rebuilding in Scotland since 2024, did not feature in either contest on 19 June.

For the Conservatives, the Aberdeen South result shows that a comeback at Scottish Parliament level is possible, not just hopeful. For the SNP, Bird's win demonstrates that while they are under pressure in the north-east, they still have support where they are traditionally strong.

One thing to understand: these by-elections elect MPs to the UK Parliament. Both of these Scottish seats are "devolved," which means Scottish Parliament separately represents these constituents in Edinburgh. The Scottish Parliament handles health, education, justice and other major areas—not Westminster.