Aberdeen “is being suffocated” by the SNP’s stance on new oil fields, according to former Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson.
Ms Davidson joined Scottish Conservative candidate Douglas Lumsden and current party leader Russell Findlay in Aberdeen South ahead of the by-election next month.
She spoke to residents with Mr Lumsden on the doors in Bieldside as she said the SNP have “betrayed the people” of Aberdeen South.
Ms Davidson said: “It was great to be in Aberdeen South with Douglas Lumsden to speak to residents who are sick and tired of their priorities being ignored by the SNP.
“The public’s message was clear: the SNP have betrayed the people of Aberdeen South and our vital oil and gas sector.
“Douglas, who spent 25 years in the industry, is focused on the issues that matter to local people and would make a leading champion for oil and gas in Aberdeen.
“Aberdeen is being suffocated by the SNP’s presumption against new oil and gas fields while Labour wants to ban all new licences in the North Sea.”
Ms Davidson also urged people to vote Tory instead of Reform Scotland, which had significant gains during last month’s Scottish Parliament elections.
She continued: “As we saw in the Scottish Parliament election for this area earlier this month, a vote for Reform or anyone else risks letting the SNP win here.
Residents are telling us they want change from the SNP, who have failed to back our oil and gas sector, and are destroying our city centre with bus gates and LEZs
“That is why only Douglas Lumsden and the Scottish Conservatives can beat the SNP at the Aberdeen South by-election on June 18.”
The SNP has previously held a strong stance against any new drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea.
However, during the election campaign First Minister John Swinney appeared to have softened his stance against licensing new offshore fossil fuel developments.
Mr Lumsden said: “It was fantastic to have Ruth, Russell and so many party members out with me in Aberdeen South.
“Residents are telling us they want change from the SNP, who have failed to back our oil and gas sector, and are destroying our city centre with bus gates and LEZs.
“Pro-UK voters must unite around the Scottish Conservatives on June 18 to beat the SNP and ensure they elect me as an MP who will champion the oil and gas industry every single day.”
SNP member and previous leader of the SNP group on Aberdeenshire Council Richard Thomson said: “The Tories inflicted the hated windfall tax on Aberdeen that is costing 1,000 jobs a month, so quite frankly the only thing Ruth Davidson should be doing is apologising to communities here in our city.
“£400 billion has been siphoned off from our North Sea to fill the Treasury coffers and nothing has been sent back except redundancy notices on an industrial scale – that is the shameful legacy of Ruth Davidson and her cronies.
“The Tories created the cliff edge in the North Sea with their disastrous windfall tax which the Labour Government is now determined to push us off.
“It is Scotland’s energy and it should be in Scotland’s hands – not Nigel Farage or the Tories. That’s what’s on the ballot on June 18.”