Livingston by-election 2005

'ID cards won't catch criminals, more police will.' Cllr Angela Constance, 25 th September 2005.

Livingston prepares to go to the polls for by-election

From Scotland Today 27 th September 2005

On Thursday people in Livingston go to the polls to vote for an MP to replace the late Robin Cook. Labour have held the seat since it was established in 1983 but the SNP and the Liberal Democrats believe it is now there for the taking.

Livingston is one of Scotland's post war new towns, known for its high-tech industries, its shopping center, its football team and its former MP Robin Cook. On the surface it looks like a safe Labour seat. In the last three Westminster elections the party secured over 50% of the vote. Robin Cook was a popular MP. His agent was Jim Devine - Labour's candidate this time around.

The SNP are campaigning for every vote. Despite Labour's majority of over 13,000, the SNP believe this seat is very winnable - some Nationalists think perhaps more winnable than Glasgow Cathcart where they have to overturn a much smaller majority. Although the SNP vote has dropped in the last three Westminster elections they still have a solid foundation of support to build upon. Angela Constance is the only woman in the ten candidate battle.

Labour and the SNP would like to think that this is a two horse race - the Liberal Democrats however think differently. Over the last three Westminster elections they are the only party whose vote has consistently gone up.

The Conservatives beat the Lib Dems into third place at the Scottish Parliament elections in 2003. They want to repeat that this time round. Their vote went up at the last Westminster elections.

All this makes for a fascinating by-election. Labour has a lot in its favour - a large majority, sympathy over Robin Cook's death, a candidate who was close to Mr Cook and a short by-election period. The SNP however feel that with disquiet over Iraq, Labour's new candidate who does not have the Cook profile and their own woman candidate, the seat is there for the taking.