Candidates and Constituency Assessments

'The Conservative government, and particularily the Prime Minister, Mrs Thatcher, arouse in Scotland a most profound antagonism, and Labour enjoys an easy dominance in consequence.' James Halliday in Scotland. A Concise History. B.C. to 1990 Gordon Wright Publishing.

Midlothian

Candidates

	Labour	David Hamilton MP
	Scottish National Party	Colin Beattie
	Conservative & Unionist	Iain McGill
	Liberal Democrat	Cllr Fred Mackintosh
	Scottish Socialist Party	Norman Gilfillan

Candidates

The Labour candidate is David Hamilton, the MP for the old Midlothian constituency. He was born in Dalkeith in 1950 and educated at Dalkeith High School. Like his two predecessors, he worked as a miner and was leader of the Lothian National Union of Mineworkers, being convicted and imprisoned for his role in the 1984 to 1985 pit dispute. From 1992 until 1995, Hamilton was a Midlothian District Councillor, and from 1995 until his election as an MP in 20, he was a Midlothian Councillor. He voted against the illegal war in Iraq.

The SNP candidate is Colin Beattie who is married and lives by Dalkeith, Midlothian. He has spent his entire career in Financial Services, working in a number of posts both in UK and overseas. Colin has been active in politics for some years and is currently local SNP Convener for Dalkeith & District. He also stood for election in Newtongrange Ward in 2003 coming second. He has been involved in supporting local campaigning issues such as the closure of rural schools in Midlothian and post office closures.

Conservative candidate Iain McGill worked as a postman for nearly three years before becoming involved in overseas aid work in Albania, Brazil, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia & Zimbabwe. He now works in Edinburgh running pilot projects for The Edinburgh HomeLink Partnership, working with homeless people. His hobbies include running marathonsand football. He has been involved in campaigns at council, Westminster, Hollyrood and Euro levels.

Lib Dem candidate Fred Mackintosh has been a City Councillor in Edinburgh since 1999 where he represents the Newington ward. He was born in 1970, is married with one son and lives in Edinburgh. He is a member of the Scottish party executive. He contested Livingston at the 1992 Westminster election, coming fourth with 8.6 %.

The SSP candidate is Norman Gilfillan who lives and works in Penicuik as a freelance graphic designer and is a well known face on the SSP stall in Penicuik on a Saturday morning. He is active in SSP campaigns to scrap the Council Tax and end prescription charges. Norman has campaigned strongly and consistently in opposition to the war and occupation of Iraq. He was also closely involved in building support for the firefighters and nursery nurses during the course of their disputes.

Notional 2001 result

Logo	Party	Denver			Baxter
		Votes	%		Votes	%
	Labour	19,397	50.51 %		18,664	48.23 %
	Scottish National Party	7,380	19.22 %		7,420	19.17 %
	Liberal Democrat	6,633	17.27 %		7,771	20.08 %
	Conservative & Unionist	3,536	9.21 %		3,586	9.27 %
	Scottish Socialist Party	1,185	3.09 %		977	2.52 %
	Others	271	0.71 %		280	0.72 %
Notional Labour win	Notional Labour majority	12,017	31.29 %		10,893	28.15 %

Local Government wards in the constituency

This consists of the whole of the old Midlothian seat, including one ward shared with the old Tweedale, Ettrick & Lauderdale seat plus three wards from Tweedale, Ettrick &, Lauderdale. The constituency now covers the whole of the Midlothian council area.