Candidates and Constituency Assessments

'During this important debate on an important constitutional issue, it is extraordinary that the Labour Benches are empty.' Michael Kerr, Earl of Ancram, Hansard, 6 th May 1998.

Lanark & Hamilton East

Candidates

	Labour	Jame Hood MP
	Scottish National Party	John Wilson
	Conservative & Unionist	Robert Pettigrew
	Liberal Democrat	Fraser Grieve
	Scottish Socialist Party	Dennis Reilly
	UK Independence Party	Donald Mackay
	Operation Christian Vote	Robin Mawhinney
	Independent	Duncan McFarlane

Candidates

The Labour candidate is the current MP for Clydesdale, Jimmy Hood. Hood was born in 1948 iin Lesmahagow and educated at in Coatbridge, at Motherwell College and Nottingham University. He was a Labour Councillor on Newark & Sherwood Council from 1979 until 1987. In 1987, following the retiral of Dame Judith Hart, he was selected for Clydesdale, which he held with 45.3 % of th vote and a 10,502 majority over Tory Raymond Robertson, later MP for Aberdeen South. There were no boundary changes in 1997, and Hood won 52.54 % of the vote and a 13,809 majority over the SNP's Andrew Doig. In 2001, Hood saw his share of the vote fall to 46.63 % and his majority over the SNP's Jim Wright fell to 7,794. He was against the 1992 Gulf War and is an opponent of proportional representation.

The SNP candidate is John Wilson. Born and raised in Falkirk John moved to Coatbridge in 1982 when he married Frances. They live in Glenboig with their 13 year old daughter. After schooling John became a coachbuilder and after redundancy went on to Glasgow University where he graduated in Politics and Economic History. He then entered the voluntary sector and currently is the Director of the Scottish Low Pay Unit. John is, and has been, involved in a number of community organisations including the school board. John has been actively involved in politics since leaving school and previously served as a councillor. He has been a member of the SNP since the eve of the Scottish Parliament elections in 1999 and currently holds the position of branch convener. Since joining the SNP he has stood at the 2001 general election and 2003 Holyrood election in Hamilton South, coming second both times with 19.40 % and 23.01 % rspectively.

The Conservative candidate is Robert Pettigrew. A graduate in Economics, Robert is presently working as Parliamentary Assistant to an MP, although we don't know which one. He has extensive experience in local branch campaigning, alongside national campaigns and has been a party activist since his schooldays.

The Lib Dem candidate is Fraser Grieve who was born in 1982 and educated at the Edinburgh Rudolph Steiner School and Stevenson College. He works as a communications manager for the Lib Dems, is single, and lives in Edinburgh. His interests include films, theatre, and current affairs. At the 2003 Scottish parliamentary election, he contested Clydesdale, coming fourth with 7.21 %.

The SSP candidate is Dennis Reilly who lives in Bothwell. Along with his wife and family, he has been involved in fostering for over 30 years, providing help and support to countless children. Over the last few years, Dennis has campaigned strongly on range of issues affecting local people including opposing health cuts, challenging the unfair Council Tax and fighting for free school meals and free prescription charges.

The UK Independence Party candidate is Donald MacKay. He is 45 years old and works as a company director in a mortgage broking business. He is divorced with two teenage children and involved in the campaign to promote the legal rights of divorced/separated fathers. A practising Christian, he joined the UKIP in 1993. At the 2001 Westminster election he contested Clydesdale, coming sixth with 0.66 %. At the 2003 Scottish parliamentary election, he was first on the UKIP's Glasgow list. At the 1999 and 2004 European elections, he was second and sixth respectively on the UKIP's national list.

The Operation Christian Vote candidate is Robin Mawhinney.

Duncan McFarlane is standing as an independent.

Notional 2001 result

Logo	Party	Denver			Baxter
		Votes	%		Votes	%
	Labour	22,727	50.52 %		23,060	51.30 %
	Scottish National Party	9,866	21.93 %		10,182	22.65 %
	Conservative & Unionist	5,629	12.51 %		5,699	12.63 %
	Liberal Democrat	5,093	11.32 %		4,502	10.02 %
	Scottish Socialist Party	1,396	3.10 %		1,397	3.11 %
	Others	276	0.61 %		111	0.25 %
Notional Labour win	Notional Labour majority	12,861	28.59 %		12,878	28.65 %

Local Government wards in the constituency

This consists of twelve of the wards from the old Clydesdale constituency, plus five wards from the old Hamilton North & Bellshill seat and four wards from the old Hamilton South seat.