Candidates and Constituency Assessments

'During the election campaign one of the most important issues for the voters of Angus and Tayside was the ongoing threat to hospital services in Stracathro, Perth and Dundee. Annabelle Ewing (MP for Perth), Pete Wishart (MP for Tayside North) and I will be focusing on the particular impact of the £386m cut in health spending that will result from the Barnett squeeze.' Mike Weir, SNP MP for Angus, 14 th June 2001.

Angus

Candidates

	Alberto Costa
	Conservative & Unionist
	Alberto Costa was raised, educated and worked in Glasgow, where he attended the University of Glasgow graduating with an MA, LLB. He was President of the StudentsÕ Representative Council from 1995-96. His parents are from Italy and came to the UK in 1967. Alberto, who is 36, is married to Dr. Maria Costa and their daughter Sophie is 8 months old. Alberto is a dual qualified Scottish and English solicitor, who has worked in Glasgow, Edinburgh, the USA and in London. Alberto was selected as Conservative Candidate for Angus by the local Conservative Association in a selection process open to all members of the local party. Recent electoral experience.
	Mike Weir MP
	Scottish National Party
	Mike Weir has been Member of Parliament for Angus since 2001 when he succeeded Andrew Welsh, who remains the MSP for Angus. Mike was born in Arbroath on 24 th March 1957. He attended Arbroath High School and Aberdeen University, where he graduated with an LLB. Prior to his election Mike worked as a Solicitor in Brechin, where he still lives. He is married with two teenage children. Mike is Shadow Scottish Minister for Work & Pensions and SNP Westminster Spokesperson for Rural Affairs, Environment and Trade & Industry. Previously a councillor in Angus from 1984 until 1988, and Convenor of the General Purposes Committee of Angus Council, Mike Weir was a solicitor and Partner for J&DG Shiell in Brechin prior to his election in 2001. Mr Weir is also a member of the Scottish Affairs Select Committee. Since his election Mike has worked to widen access to elected representatives by opening new offices in Arbroath and Montrose. Recent electoral experience 2005 Westminster election, Angus, 12,840 votes (33.65 %) (elected) 2001 Westminster election, Angus, 12,347 votes (35.26 %) (elected) 1987 Westminster election, Aberdeen South, 2,776 votes (6.57 %) 1984 Angus District Council election (elected)
	Who?
	Labour
	Ministerial Posts: Recent electoral experience
	Who?
	Liberal Democrat
	Recent electoral experience

Westminster Election, 5 th May 2005

Electorate 63,093 Turnout 60.48 %
	Mike Weir MP
	Scottish National Party
	Votes	12,840
	%	33.65 %
	% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)	+ 0.49 % / - 0.36 %
	Cllr Sandy Bushby
	Conservative & Unionist
	Votes	11,239
	%	29.48 %
	% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)	- 2.16 % / + 0.91 %
	Doug Bradley
	Labour
	Votes	6,850
	%	17.95 %
	% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)	- 0.31 % / - 2.72 %
	Rev Scott Rennie
	Liberal Democrat
	Votes	6,660
	%	17.45 %
	% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)	+ 2.70 % / + 3.07 %
	Alan Manley
	Scottish Socialist Party
	Votes	556
	%	1.46 %
	% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)	- 0.44 % / - 0.63 %
Notional Scottish National Party hold
Scottish National Party majority		1,601
% majority		4.17 %
% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)		+ 2.65 % / - 1.36 %

Notional 2001 result

Logo	Party	Denver			Baxter
		Votes	%		Votes	%
	Scottish National Party	11,595	33.16 %		12,281	34.01 %
	Conservative & Unionist	11,063	31.64 %		10,315	28.57 %
	Labour	6,386	18.26 %		7,465	20.67 %
	Liberal Democrat	5,157	14.75 %		5,192	14.38 %
	Scottish Socialist Party	663	1.90 %		752	2.09 %
	Others	102	0.29 %		104	0.29 %
Notional Scottish National Party win	Notional Scottish National Party majority	532	1.52 %		1,966	5.46 %