Candidates and Constituency Assessments

'Suddenly, there are few good reasons not to contemplate replacing Tony Blair with a more traditional Labour leader.' Tim Luckhurst in the Herald, 25 th January 2001.

Argyll & Bute

Candidates

	Cllr Gary Mulvaney
	Conservative & Unionist
	The Tory candidate was Caroline Brodie, but her selection was controvertial and Betty Waddell, a senior activist in Argyll & Bute, spoke out against the selection process. She has since been replaced as Tory candidate by Cllr Gary Mulvaney. Gary Mulvany was born 1968. He is engaged, living with partner, Janet Marshall, and a step-daughter, Sammy Jo Marshall. He obtained a degree Accounting before working as a Chartered Certified Accountant. He is a Fellow of Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. He has been the Financial Director of Helensburgh Toyota since 2004, and has been employed there since 1997. He was a Schools Young Enterprise Advisor from 2000 to 2003 and is a Business member on Helensburgh & Lomond Chamber of Commerce. He was Chairman of Dumbarton Constituency Conservative Association from 1999 to 2003, when he was elected as councillor in 2003 (Helensburgh & Rhu Ward) in a closely contested three way fight, beating sitting Independent Cllr Stanley Latimer by 18 votes. Gary Mulvaney was the Argyll & Bute Council Audit Committee Chair 2003-2007. He was re-elected in Helensburgh Central ward in 2007 with highest number of first preference votes. He is a Member of Policy Performance Groups on Organisational Development and Economic Policy and a Council-appointed Board Member of Helensburgh Partnership (project board re Town Centre and waterfront regeneration). He has been a Council Board Member on Dunbritton Housing Association from 2003 to date. He was selected Conservative Group Leader on Argyll & Bute council in January 2008. He also seved as a Rhu Community Council member from 2000 to 2003 and on Friends of Helensburgh Cemetery from 2007 to date. Party positions Leader of the Tory group on Argyll & Bute council - January 2008 - Recent electoral experience. 2007 Argyll & Bute Council election, Helensburgh Central, 1,220 First preference votes (27.67 %) (elected) 2003 Argyll & Bute Council election, Helensburgh & Rhu, 386 votes (35.81 %) (elected) 1999 Argyll & Bute Council election, Helensburgh & Rhu, 442 votes (36.08 %)
	Mike MacKenzie
	Scottish National Party
	Recent electoral experience 2007 Argyll &, Bute Council election, Oban North &, Lorn, 401 votes (8.80 %)
	Alan Reid MSP
	Liberal Democrat
	Alan Reid has been Lib Dem MP for Argyll & Bute since 2001 when Ray Michie, now Baroness Michie, retired. Born in 1954, he was educated at Ayr Academy and has a BSc from Strathyclyde University. Single and living in Dunoon, he has worked as a computer project manager. His interests include chess, walking and reading. Alan Reid was a Renfrewshire councillor from 1988 until 1996. He contested the Westminster seat of Paisley South at the 1990 by-election, coming fourth with 9.8 % and at the Westminster election of 1992, coming fourth with 9.1 %. In 1997, he contested Dumbarton, coming fourth with 7.6%. He was a junior Lib Dem whip before the 2005 election before being promtoted to Trade & spokesman from 2005 until 2006, before becoming Northern Ireland and then Scotland spokesperson. Recent electoral experience 2005 Westminster Parliament election, Argyll & Bute, 15,786 votes (36.52 %) (elected) 2001 Westminster Parliament election, Argyll & Bute, 9,245 votes 29.86 % (elected) 1997 Westminster Parliament election, Dunbartson, 3,144 votes (7.62%) 1992 Westminster Parliament election, Paisley South, 3,271 votes (9.11 %) 1992 Renfrew District Council election (elected) 1988 Renfrew District Council election (elected)
	Who?
	Labour
	Ministerial Posts: Recent electoral experience

Westminster Election, 5 th May 2005

Electorate 67,325 Turnout 64.21 %
	Alan Reid MP
	Liberal Democrat
	Votes	15,786
	%	36.52 %
	% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)	+ 3.70 % / + 6.01 %
	Jamie McGrigor MSP
	Conservative & Unionist
	Votes	10,150
	%	23.48 %
	% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)	- 0.18 % / + 2.43 %
	Carolyn Manson
	Labour
	Votes	9,696
	%	22.43 %
	% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)	- 0.27 % / - 4.99 %
	Cllr Isobel Strong
	Scottish National Party
	Votes	6,716
	%	15.54 %
	% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)	- 1.91 % / - 2.11 %
	Deirdre Henderson
	Scottish Socialist Party
	Votes	881
	%	2.04 %
	% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)	- 1.33 % / - 1.06 %
Notional Liberal Democrat hold
Liberal Democrat majority		5,636
% majority		13.04 %
% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)		+ 3.88 % / + 3.58 %

Notional 2001 result

Logo	Party	Denver			Baxter
		Votes	%		Votes	%
	Liberal Democrat	13,724	32.82 %		12,856	30.51 %
	Conservative & Unionist	9,892	23.66 %		8,871	21.05 %
	Labour	9,493	22.70 %		11,551	27.42 %
	Scottish National Party	7,295	17.45 %		7,435	17.65 %
	Scottish Socialist Party	1,410	3.37 %		1,420	3.10 %
Notional Liberal Democrat win	Notional Liberal Democrat majority	3,832	9.16 %		1,305	3.10 %