Candidates and Constituency Assessments

'Labour suffered an election nightmare in Edinburgh today as two of its key MSPs lost their seats to the Tories and Liberal Democrats. In Edinburgh Pentlands, Tory leader David McLetchie ousted Enterprise Minister Iain Gray. And in a second major shock, former Finance Minister Angus MacKay, one of Labour's brightest stars, was beaten into second place by the Lib Dems' Mike Pringle in Edinburgh South.' Ian Swanson and Sam Halstead in the Scotsman, 2 nd May 2003.

Edinburgh South

Candidates

	Labour	Nigel Griffiths MP
	Scottish National Party	Graham Sutherland
	Conservative & Unionist	Gavin Brown
	Liberal Democrat	Cllr Marilyne MacLaren
	Scottish Socialist Party	Morag Robertson
	Scottish Green Party	Stephen Burgess

Candidates

The Labour candidate is Nigel Griffiths who has been MP for Edinburgh South since he won the seat from Tory, Michael Kerr, Earl of Ancram, in 1987. Griffiths was born in Glasgow in 1955 and was educated at Hawick High School, Edinburgh University, and Moray House. Before his election he worked as a welfare rights officier. He was a member of Edinburgh District Council from 1980 until 1987. After Labour's 18 years in the wilderness, Griffiths was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Dept. of Trade & Industry in 1997, but was sacked in July 1998. In June 2001, he was reappointed to the same post. Like Henry McLeish, Nigel Griffith has been criticised in the press over his office expenses.

Scottish National Party candidate is Graham Sutherland. Graham is a teacher of Modern Studies at an Edinburgh comprehensive school. He joined the SNP in 1973 and has held a number of posts in the SNP at local and national level. As a member of the SNP's education advisory group, he has played an active role in formulating party policy. Graham has been a regular speaker at SNP Annual Conference and National Council. Graham's interests include foreign travel, cycling and choral singing. An experienced candidate, he has been selected as SNP candidate for his home constituency in this election. Graham Sutherland first contested Edinburgh West in 1992 when he came fourth with 8.4 %, while in 1997 he again came fourth, on the new boundaries, with 8.4 %. Graham contested Edinburgh West for a third time at the 1999 Scottish parliamentary election, again coming fourthbut this time almost doubling the SNP vote to 16.8 %. At the 2003 Scottish Parliamentary elections, he was again selected for Midlothian where he came second with 23.8 %.

Tory candidate, Gavin Brown is 28 year old. He was educated at primary school in Hong Kong, Fettes College in Edinburgh where he was Head Boy and then graduated from Strathclyde University with a law degree. He went on to work for McGrigor Donald solicitors for four years, after which he joined Speak With Impact, a dynamic skills training company. Gavin has served as Vice-Chairman for the Junior Chamber of Commerce. He is also a black belt in Tae Kwon-Do, and is a Scottish Champion and British bronze medallist.

The Lib Dem candidate is Marilyne MacLaren who has been a Lothian Regions and Edinburgh City councillor since 1986, currently representing the Marchmont ward. She has a MA in Moral Philosphy and a teaching certificate from Durham University, has two daughters, and lives in Edinburgh. Her interests include reading and travel. Marilyne MacLaren contested the Westminster by-election for Hamilton South in 1999 where the Lib Dems made political history when they polled 3.3 % and came sixth, behind Hamilton Accies. In 2001, she had a a better result in Edinburgh South, coming second with 27.4 % and paving the way to a Lib Dem victory in the seat at the Scottish election of 2003. She has not contested any constituencies in Scottish elections, but was third on the Lib Dem list for the Lothians in 1999 and second on the list in 2003.

The SSP candidate is Morag Robertson, aged 34 who is a primary school teacher. She is an EIS union representative at the Midlothian school where she has taught since 1999. A mother of one, she helps with the running of her local Baby and Toddler Group. Morag cares deeply about the future of our public services and enthusiastically campaigns against privatisation in education, health and pensions.

The Scottish Green Party candidate is Steve Burgess was born in Edinburgh and has lived and worked in the city most of his life. He was previously a campaigner for Greenpeace and now leads the research team for Green MSPs in the Scottish Parliament. Steve is learning Scots fiddle and is a keen hill walker Š mainly on ArthurÕs Seat.

Notional 2001 result

Logo	Party	Denver			Baxter
		Votes	%		Votes	%
	Labour	16,292	39.28 %		16,923	39.50 %
	Liberal Democrat	10,507	25.33 %		10,690	24.95 %
	Conservative & Unionist	9,422	22.71 %		9,843	22.97 %
	Scottish National Party	3,840	9.26 %		3,918	9.14 %
	Scottish Socialist Party	915	2.21 %		971	2.26 %
	Others	498	1.20 %		502	1.17 %
Notional Labour win	Notional Labour majority	5,785	13.95 %		6,233	14.55 %

Local Government wards in the constituency

This new constituency consists of the whole of the old Edinburgh South seat except Prestonfield which goes to the new Edinburgh East seat and includes Fairmileheard from the old Edinburgh Pentalnds and South Morningside which was shared with the old Edinburgh Pentlands seat.