Candidates and Constituency Assessments

'We have no split loyalties. We stand for Scotland.' SNP leader John Swinney MSP MP, 2 nd March 2001.

Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch & Strathspey

Candidates

	Jim Ferguson
	Conservative & Unionist
	Jim Ferguson has been chosen as the prospective Westminster Candidate for Inverness Nairn Badenoch and Strathspey. Locally born, Jim is a successful businessman and his company, The Castle Security Group is one of the largest providers of security services in the Highland and Grampian regions. Jim is married with three children who attend local schools. He is involved with the community around him and has a keen interest in law and order. He is Chairman of the Inverness Crime Prevention panel and also Chairman of Crimestoppers for the Highlands and works at reducing crime and the fear of crime across the region. As a Patron and Director of the Inverness Chamber of Commerce he attends many business related events and works hard to ensure that other businesses in the area are fully represented. He and his colleagues work hard at campaigning on behalf of other businesses in the area. Jim is also involved with the Drug and Alcohol Forum and sits on the Board of Directors with Inverness City Centre Management and Chairs Safe Inverness. "I believe we need to do more for our most vulnerable in society including our elderly and our young. I don't believe we need to put up with antisocial behaviour and we should tackle crime robustly. Our courts should be giving out realistic sentences to meet the crime instead of choosing the soft option. I support building more prisons. We should be proud of our nation and stand up for our culture and heritage. I want to see far more done in relation to affordable housing, health and education and a serious resistance mounted to the scourge and nonsense of political correctness and red tape bureaucracy foisted on us by the Labour Government. I also have a keen interest in defence and fully support our armed forces and I believe more investment should be made in equipment and personnel as we need to keep up our guard. There must also be better provision and welfare for the families of our armed services personnel." Jim's interests include hillwalking and motorcycles but most of all spending time with his family. Jim is also a member of the Church of Scotland and a committed Christian. "I believe that it's time for a new way. People want politicians who will listen and get things done and they want leaders who they can trust. I will fight for local people and local issues as much as national ones and look forward to serving the people of Inverness Nairn Badenoch and Strathspey here in the Highlands " Recent electoral experience.
	Who?
	Labour
	Ministerial Posts: Recent electoral experience
	Who?
	Liberal Democrat
	Recent electoral experience
	Who?
	Scottish National Party
	Recent electoral experience

Notional 2001 result

Logo	Party	Denver			Baxter
		Votes	%		Votes	%
	Labour	13,772	32.18 %		14,422	33.69 %
	Liberal Democrat	12,638	29.53 %		12,264	28.65 %
	Scottish National Party	9,836	22.98 %		9,705	22.67 %
	Conservative & Unionist	5,262	12.30 %		5,227	12.21 %
	Scottish Socialist Party	885	2.07 %		784	1.83 %
	Others	402	0.94 %		401	0.94 %
Notional Labour win	Notional Labour majority	1,134	2.65 %		2,158	5.04 %