Candidates and Constituency Assessments

'I will never, ever, compromise on tuition fees!' A furious Dr Keith Raffan, Lib Dem MSP for Mid Scotland & Fife, after Jim Wallace ditched the Liberal's 'non-negotiable' election promises for a deputy's badge and a ministerial salary, May 1999.

Glenrothes

Candidates

	Maurice Golden
	Conservative & Unionist
	Maurice is 28 years of age and lives in Newport-on-Tay in Fife. He is an Environmental Campaigns Manager for Keep Scotland Beautiful and firmly believes we must continue to reduce, re-use and recycle our waste. Maurice joined the Conservative Party in 1997 and has previously served as Chairman of the Dundee University Students' Conservative and Unionist Association. In addition, Maurice was President of Conservative Future Scotland for three years. Outside of work, Maurice enjoys playing football, travelling and writing. He has lectured in 'Policing the early Nineteenth Century' and has produced Research Papers in the diverse fields of History and Environmental Law. Maurice is a graduate of Dundee University. In 2004, he was editor of the Dundee University Student Times, which obtained the nickname 'Life in Dundee according to Maurice Golden'. In 2006 he was on the short list as Tory candidate in the Dunfermline & West Fife by-election and was described by Fife Tory leader Cllr Stuart Randall as 'the token male'. In 2007, he contested Central Fife, coming fourth, and is currently standing in the Glenrother by-election Recent electoral experience. 2008 Westminster Parliament by-election, Glenrothes 2007 Scottish Parliament election, Central Fife, 2,003 votes (7.43 %)
	Cllr Peter Grant
	Scottish National Party
	Cllr Peter Grant has lived in Fife for 25 years, and is currently the Leader of Fife Council, which shares administration with the Liberal Democrats. He is aged 48 and lives locally in Glenrothes. After 16 years as a local councillor (representing the Glenrothes West & Kinglassie ward), he is now leader of Fife Council. Peter won his first council election in 1992, and became the first non-Labour leader of Fife Council last year. He has been credited with turning around Fife Council, has an excellent track record as a local campaigner, and was one of the driving forces behind the SNP campaign to scrap Forth and Tay bridge tolls. He has spent much of his working life in the public sector, initially training as a teacher before going on to work in several public sector finance positions. He is married to local GP and fellow SNP councillor, Fiona Grant. Cllr Grant said: "I am delighted to have been selected to fight the by-election, and am looking forward to the campaign. The SNP is working hard to earn the support of the people of Scotland and to make Scotland a better place for us all. I've lived and worked in Fife, and understand what Fife has to offer and what it needs to take the next step forward. A vote for the SNP sends a clear message to the Government in London - that they have to act on rising household bills. London only listens when the SNP win - it's Fife's turn now." Central Fife MSP Tricia Marwick commented: "The SNP has worked hard to deliver on what matters to the people of Scotland and has done what it can to address the concerns of hard working families over the cost of living, rising household bills, crime, healthcare and opportunity. Peter has campaigned for years on local issues such as tolls on the Forth and Tay bridges, now abolished by the SNP. Fife Council, led by Peter Grant, has frozen the council tax, after it had risen by 61% under Labour. Peter is ready and able to be the new, powerful voice that speaks up for the needs of the local community at Westminster." Leader of the SNP Alex Salmond added: "Last month the voters of Glasgow East sent a message to the Labour government in London and they got results - a freeze on the planned 2 p increase in fuel duty. It's not enough but it's a start and shows what can be achieved if we stand together and make our voices heard. We're doing what we can in Scotland to make life a little easier. The UK Government, by contrast, has stood aside and done nothing. Labour are out of touch in Fife, Scotland and Westminster. The SNP are moving Fife and Scotland forward." Council positions 2007 - Leader of Fife Council Recent electoral experience 2007 Fife Council election, Glenrothes West & Kinglassie, 1,835 First preference votes, (27.87 %) (elected) 2003 Fife Council election, 883 votes (48.68 %) (elected) 1999 Fife Council election, Caskieberran & Rimbleton, 1,157 votes (53.66 %) (elected) 1995 Fife Council election, Rimbleton/Viewfield, 707 votes (52.64 %) (elected) 1992 Fife District Council election (elected)
	Who?
	Labour
	Ministerial Posts: Recent electoral experience
	Who?
	Liberal Democrat
	Recent electoral experience

Glenrothes

Westminster Election, 5 th May 2005

Electorate 66,563 Turnout: 56.14 %
	John MacDougall MP
	Labour
	Votes	19,395
	%	51.91 %
	% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)	- 6.01 % / - 7.11 %
	John Beare
	Scottish National Party
	Votes	8,731
	%	23.37 %
	% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)	- 0.61 % / - 0.09 %
	Cllr Elizabeth Riches
	Liberal Democrat
	Votes	4,728
	%	12.65 %
	% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)	+ 4.87 % / + 4.61 %
	Belinda Don
	Conservative & Unionist
	Votes	2,651
	%	7.09 %
	% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)	- 0.38 % / + 0.30 %
	George Rodger
	Pensioners Party Scotland
	Votes	716
	%	1.92 %
	% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)	(+ 1.92 %) / (+ 1.92 %)
	Morag Balfour
	Scottish Socialist Party
	Votes	705
	%	1.89 %
	% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)	- 0.77 % / - 0.70 %
	Paul Smith
	UK Independence Party
	Votes	440
	%	1.18 %
	% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)	(+ 1.18%) / (+ 1.18%)
Labour hold
Labour majority		10,664
% majority		28.54 %
% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)		- 5.41 % / - 7.02 %

Notional 2001 result

Logo	Party	Denver			Baxter
		Votes	%		Votes	%
	Labour	22,160	57.93 %		22,800	59.02 %
	Scottish National Party	9,172	23.98 %		9,063	23.46 %
	Liberal Democrat	3,013	7.88 %		3,106	8.04 %
	Conservative & Unionist	2,858	7.47 %		2,623	6.79 %
	Scottish Socialist Party	1,017	2.66 %		999	2.59 %
	Others	31	0.08 %		43	0.11 %
Notional Labour win	Notional Labour majority	12,988	33.95 %		13,737	35.56 %