Candidates and Constituency Assessments

'In every working day a Scottish teacher achieves more than a New Labour Minister does in a lifetime.' Alex Salmond at the SNP Conference 1998.

Aberdeen South

Candidates

	Anne Begg MP
	Labour
	Anne Begg won Aberdeen South from the Tories in 1997. She was born in Forfar on the 6 th of December 1955 and educated at Brechin High School, Aberdeen University and Aberdeen College of Education. Before being elected, Begg taught English in Kirriemuir and then Arbroath. Begg is confined to a wheelchair and was named Disabled Scot of the Year in 1998. She in favour of devolution, proportional representation, and voted against the war in Iraq Ministerial Posts: None Labour Party Positions: 1998 - 1999 Member of National Executive Committee Recent electoral experience 2005 Westminster Parliament election, Aberdeen South, 15,272 votes (36.69 %) (elected) 2001 Westminster Parliament election, Aberdeen South, 14,696 votes (39.84 %) (elected) 2001 Westminster Parliament election, Aberdeen South, 15,541 votes (35.27 %) (elected)
	Matthew Duncan
	Liberal Democrat
	Matthew Duncan was born in Aberdeen and educated at Milltimber Primary, Cults Academy and the University of Aberdeen. He was elected as Cllr for Myrtle in Aberdeen in 2003, but did not seek re-election in 2007. He works as a Parliamentary Researcher. His special interests are Planning and Ethics, while his hobbies include Music, Sport and Reading. On the 8 th May 2008, Alba in the Scotsman reported that 'Duncan had quit as candidate, the second Lib Dem to do so in Aberdeen South in six months.' Recent electoral experience 2003 Aberdeenshire Council election, Murtle, 1,537 votes (64.39 %) (elected)
	Mark Jones
	Conservative & Unionist
	In his 40s Mark has a wealth of political Experience.Ê A University graduate with an Honours degree in History and politics. Mark served for a number of terms as a Conservative Cllr including as Vice-Chairman of General Services Committee and a Police Liaison Committee.ÊHe has servedÊas Chairman of Govenors for numerousÊÊschools governors and Youth Centre Management Committees and as a member of an Educational Appeals Panel. Having owned and managed his own news-agency business and currently owning an organic farm, Mark has first hand experience of the red tape and bureaucracy from all tiers of Government that stifle enterprise and initiative. Over the years Mark has campaigned tirelessly on both local and national issues and isÊ busy campaigning with our team of dedicated and hard working Conservative Cllrs in Aberdeen South on a whole range of vital local issues. First joining the Young Conservatives when he was 15, Mark has held office at Branch, Constituency and Regional level within the Party. Mark was the Scottish Conservative Westminster Candidate in Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock Constituency in the 2005 General Election, achieving one of the highest votes and largest swings from Labour to the Conservatives in Scotland. In his leisure time, Mark enjoys travel, reading, gardening, supporting various animal charities and the RNLI, sport - holding a gold medal in life saving and is a former county cross country runner. Mark comments, ÒWe need to see the Scottish Parliament and Westminster working together not confronting each other to improve life for us all here in Scotland.Ó Recent electoral experience. 2007 Scottish Parliament election, Shetland, 972 votes (9.92 %) 2007 Scottish Parliament election, Number 7 on Tory Highlands & Islands list, 23,334 votes (12.56 %) 2005 Westminster election, Ayr, Carrick & Cumnock, 10,436 votes (23.17 %) Tory Councillor for London Borough of Redburgh
	Cllr Mark McDonald
	Scottish National Party
	Cllr Mark McDonald was born in Inverurie and educated at Dyce Primary School and Dyce Academy. He studied at the University of Dundee graduating with a MA (Hons) Politics and the University of Aberdeen, graduating with a Mlitt (Commendation) in Strategic Studies. His special interests are environmental issues, youth issues and sporting facilities. He is Convenor of the council's Appeals Committee and is a member of the Area Committee North and the Resources Management Committee. His leisure interests includefootball, cinema, theatre and public speaking. A YouGov poll of 35,000 voters in marginal seats in September 2007 suggested that SNP could win both Aberdeen North and South from Labour. Party positions 2007 - Deputy Leader of the SNP group on Aberdeen City Council Recent electoral experience 2007 Aberdeen Council election, Dyce/Bucksburn/Danestone, 2,620 First preference votes votes (36.18 %) (elected)

Westminster Election, 5 th May 2005

Electorate 67,012 Turnout: 62.11 %
	Anne Begg MP
	Labour
	Votes	15,272
	%	36.69 %
	% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)	- 1.35 % / - 2.56 %
	Vicki Harris
	Liberal Democrat
	Votes	13,924
	%	33.45 %
	% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)	+ 4.90 % / + 5.47 %
	Stewart Whyte
	Conservative & Unionist
	Votes	7,134
	%	17.17 %
	% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)	- 2.64 % / - 2.18 %
	Maureen Watt
	Scottish National Party
	Votes	4,120
	%	9.90 %
	% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)	- 2.33 % / - 2.12 %
	Rhonda Reekie
	Scottish Green Party
	Votes	768
	%	1.85 %
	% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)	(+ 1.85 %)
	Donald Munro
	Scottish Socialist Party
	Votes	403
	%	0.97 %
	% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)	- 0.40 % / - 0.39 %
Notional Labour hold
Labour majority		1,348
% majority		3.24 %
% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)		- 6.25 % / - 8.03 %

Notional 2001 result

Logo	Party	Denver			Baxter
		Votes	%		Votes	%
	Labour	15,753	38.04 %		16,661	39.25 %
	Liberal Democrat	11,822	28.55 %		11,876	27.98 %
	Conservative & Unionist	8,202	19.81 %		8,215	19.35 %
	Scottish National Party	5,065	12.23 %		5,103	12.02 %
	Scottish Socialist Party	566	1.37 %		593	1.36 %
Notional Labour win	Notional Labour majority	3,931	9.49 %		4,785	11.27 %