Westminster Election, 5 th May 2005

'Alastair Campbell ... complained last week that I had written a story, which he described as fiction, about the Prime Minister cancelling a visit to the Ayr by-election. In fact he wrote on the letterhead of Number 10 to the editor for publication saying no such visit had ever been planned. I should just like to point out - again - that the Labour Party itself issued a press release in the name of the Secretary of State for Scotland - subject, the Ayr by-election - stating that Dr Reid was, and I quote: 'Looking forward to the visit this week by the Prime Minister to Scotland, Scottish Labour conference and Labour's continued campaign in the Ayr by-election.' Even when you get it right, you are told you're wrong.' Murray Ritchie of the Herald, 14 th March 2000.

West Dunbartonshire

Westminster Election, 5 th May 2005

Electorate 67,805 Turnout: 61.34 %
Logo	Party	Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour Co-op	John McFall MP	21,600	51.94 %
	Scottish National Party	Tom Chalmers	9,047	21.75 %
	Liberal Democrat	Cllr Niall Walker	5,999	14.42 %
	Conservative & Unionist	Campbell Murdoch	2,679	6.44 %
	Scottish Socialist Party	Les Robertson	1,708	4.11 %
	UK Independence Party	Bryan Maher	354	0.85 %
	Operation Christian Vote	Marlon Dawson	202	0.49 %
	Notional Labour Co-op hold	Labour Co-op majority	12,553	30.18 %

Notional 2001 result

Logo	Party	Denver			Baxter
		Votes	%		Votes	%
	Labour	29,210	63.49 %		25,734	57.59 %
	Scottish National Party	11,041	24.00 %		11,026	24.67 %
	Scottish Socialist Party	2,317	5.04 %		2,184	4.89 %
	Conservative & Unionist	2,308	5.02 %		3,545	7.93 %
	Liberal Democrat	1,134	2.46 %		2,199	4.92 %
Notional Labour win	Notional Labour majority	18,169	39.49 %		14,708	32.91 %