Candidates and Constituency Assessments

'Labour has made an agreement with us about how we might advance the cause of constitutional reform. I anticipate and believe that the agreement will be honoured. I do not believe that Mr Blair is a dishonourable man. He has made that agreement and I expect and believe that he will carry that out.' Paddy Ashdown, 2 nd May 1997. (We're still waiting!)

Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross

Candidates

	Labour	Alan Jamieson
	Scottish National Party	Karen Shirron
	Conservative & Unionist	Angus Ross
	Liberal Democrat	John Sinclair, third Viscount Thurso MP
	Scottish Socialist Party	Luke Ivory
	Independent	James Campbell

Candidates

The Labour candidate is Alan Jamieson.

The SNP candidate is Karen Shirron. Karen joined the SNP in 1992 and has held various office bearer positions at both branch and Constituency level. She was elected to Aberdeen City Council in 1999 beating the sitting Labour councillor by 7 votes. She was re-elected in 2003 with an increased majority of 336 and is currently deputy leader of the SNP council group. Karen also works for Brian Adam SNP MSP for Aberdeen North as a parliamentary assistant; a position which she has held since 1992. She has been active in every campaign since joining the party and her most memorable day to date is the Aberdeen North victory in 2003. Karen has a MA Joint Hons in History-Celtic Civilisation and a Post Graduate Diploma in Information Analysis. She has three daughters, the youngest of whom is 16. Her interests include reading, when she has the time, Scottish history, walking her dogs, equality and diversity issues and furthering the cause of Scottish independence at every available opportunity.

The Tory candidate, Angus Ross, is an Independent Management Consultant having graduated with a degree in Chemistry. A former Councillor, Angus is a Board member of the charity REPLAY and a school governor. His main areas of interest lie in defence, industry, energy and fishing. He has a pilots license and sails regularly.

The high, mighty and most noble third Viscount Thurso is best known as a spitting image of Lord Lucan and for being the grandson of the first Viscount, Sir Archibald Sinclair, a onetime leader of the Liberal Party and Secretary of State for Scotland. Sir Archibald Sinclair represented Caithness & Sutherland from 1922 until 1945. Elected unopposed in 1931, Sir Archibald was forced into third place, only 55 votes behind Labour and 61 votes behind the new Tory MP. The third Viscount was born in 1953 and is married with a daughter and two sons to carry on his most noble line. He was schooled at Thurso and then, as is the tradition for the intelectually challenged children of the nobility, sent off to Eton. The noble Lord Thurso was a Hereditary Member of House of Lords from 1995 until 1999 where he was an extremely hard working member of the Lords Refreshment Sub-Committee! When he was denied membership of the best Gentleman's Club in the World, Lord Thurso stood for parliament in 2001, inheriting the seat of Robert Maclennan, who is now a member of the House of Lords as Baron Maclennan of Rogart.

The SSP candidate is Luke Ivory, aged 21, from Brora, spoke at last year's Mother's Day rally in support of Caithness GeneralŐs maternity unit. He has actively supported full 24-hour consultant lead cover. He has participated in direct action against GM crop trails at Munlochy, organised opposition to the closure of Hunters of Brora wool mill, and has campaigned for Nigg to be taken into public ownership and used to build wind, wave and tidal turbines.

James Campbell is standing as an independent.

Notional 2001 result

Logo	Party	Denver			Baxter
		Votes	%		Votes	%
	Liberal Democrat	10,981	38.63 %		10,540	37.60 %
	Labour	6,903	24.29 %		6,651	23.72 %
	Scottish National Party	5,778	20.33 %		6,139	21.90 %
	Conservative & Unionist	3,832	13.48 %		3,753	13.39 %
	Scottish Socialist Party	615	2.16 %		624	2.26 %
	Others	345	1.21 %		322	1.14 %
Notional Liberal Democrat win	Notional Liberal Democrat majority	4,078	14.35 %		3,889	13.78 %

Local Government wards in the constituency

This constituency consists of the old Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross constituency plus Ferindonald ward from the old Ross, Skye & Inverness West constituency. Alness & Ardross ward is now wholly within Caithness, Sutherland & Easter Ross.