The Conservatives are preparing for the Aberdeen by-election and are focused on potentially narrowing or overturning the Scottish National Party (SNP) majority. Multiple reports say Conservative strategists believe their campaign has moved from third place toward a more competitive position, with a goal of reducing the SNP’s lead substantially. The SNP’s previous majority is reported to be just under 4,000 votes, which frames the scale of the contest described by the sources. The coverage also highlights that local concerns tied to oil and gas are seen as a factor that could influence how voters decide in the by-election. While the reports emphasize Conservative expectations of a strong performance, they do not provide detailed evidence of polling or formal results in the material provided. Overall, the articles present the by-election as a contest in which economic and industry-related issues in Aberdeen could play a role, and in which the SNP’s position is being treated as potentially vulnerable if voters shift away from the incumbent party.