Candidates and Constituency Assessments

'We are worried about how to pay for care of the elderly and reducing class sizes in schools. However, we are spending millions on weapons of mass destruction that will never be used.' George Galloway MP, 11 th February 2001.

Glasgow North

Candidates

	Labour	Anne McKetchin MP
	Scottish National Party	Kenny McLean
	Conservative & Unionist	Brian Pope
	Liberal Democrat	Amy Rodger
	Scottish Socialist Party	Nick Tarlton
	Scottish Green Party	Martin Bartos

Candidates

The Labour candidate is Anne McKetchin, who is currently MP for Glasgow Maryhill. She was born in 1961 in paisley and educated at Paisley Grammar School and Strathclyde University. She worked as a solicitor and became a partner in her law firm. At the 1999 Scottish parliamentary elections, she was third on Labour's West of Scotland list. When Maria Fyfe announced her retirement, McKetchin was selected from an all female short list. She was elected in 2001 with a 9,888 majority over the SNP. She voted against the illegal war in Iraq.

The SNP candidate is Kenny McLean. Kenny is convener of Glasgow Kelvin Constituency Association SNP and Secretary of Glasgow West End Branch SNP. He has considerable experience of fighting election campaigns, having been a candidate in local elections and an election agent in Glasgow Kelvin at the 2001 general election. Formerly he served as the National Convener of the Federation of Student Nationalists. Kenny was born in Paisley in 1960, was educated at Hyndland Secondary and Glasgow University where he graduated with an honours degree in Politics and History. He lives in Partick in the Glasgow North constituency. Currently he is studying for a Masters Degree in Urban Policy at Glasgow University. Kenny previously worked as researcher to MSP Sandra White. An active member of his local community he is vice-chairman of Partick Community Council.

The Conservative candidate is Brian Pope who currently works as a civil engineer for an international firm of consulting engineers in Glasgow. In 2001 he was elected to the Council of the Institution of Civil Engineers at Westminster and represented over 10,000 civil engineers in the UK, holding the post until November 2004. Brian actively supports the humanitarian work carried out by engineers in the developing world and is a leading fundraiser for one of the top engineering charities. BrianÕs other interests include swimming, walking, cycling and reading.

Lib Dem candidate Amy Rodger was born in 1977 and has an MA in politics from Glasgow university. She is single and lives in Glasgow. She is a membre of the Campaign for Real Ale and other interests include arts, culture and equality. She contested the Carrick, Cumnock & Doon Valley at the 2001 Westminster election, coming fourth with 7.3 %, and was second on the Lib Dem list for Glasgow at the Scottish election of 2003.

The SSP candidate is Nick Tarlton, a 25-year-old postal worker. He volunteers at a youth project in Maryhill and is involved in campaigning for rights for young workers, including an £8 minimum wage for all. He has been involved in campaigning against the Council Tax, against privatisation and for free, nutritious school meals for every school child in Scotland. Nick is dedicated to exposing New LabourÕs lies over the war and campaigning to bring the troops home from Iraq. He is a member of the Communication Workers Union.

The Scottish Green Party candidate is Martin Bartos who was rought up near Glasgow, Martin Bartos, aged 33, lives in Dowanhill. He is currently an NHS doctor working with the elderly on the south side of Glasgow. He has wide experience of health, environmental and welfare issues and was third on the Greens national list for the 2004 European elections when the Greens came second with 16.76 % in the old Glasgow Kelvin constituency.

Notional 2001 result

Labour

Logo	Party	Denver			Baxter
		Votes	%		Votes	%
	Labour	13,214	48.36 %		13,752	49.15 %
	Liberal Democrat	5,191	19.00 %		5,040	18.01 %
	Scottish National Party	4,473	16.37 %		4,471	15.98 %
	Conservative & Unionist	2,241	8.20 %		2,247	8.03 %
	Scottish Socialist Party	1,758	6.43 %		2,006	7.17 %
	Others	449	1.64 %		461	1.64 %
Notional Labour win	Notional Labour majority	8,023	29.36 %		8,712	31.14 %

Local Government wards in the constituency

This consists of the old Glasgow Maryhill seat minus Milton, Ashfield and Keppochhill which go to Glasgow North East, with the addition of Kelvindale from the old Glasgow Anniesland seat and Hyndland, Hillhead and Partrick from the old Glasgow Kelin consistuency.