Candidates and Constituency Assessments

'Nowadays it is no longer enough simply to report objectively - we are now expected to be on message. Otherwise you are off message, out of the loop. If you are not for them, you're against them.' Murray Ritchie of the Herald, 14 th March 2000.

Na h-Eileanan An Iar

Candidates

	Cllr Donald John MacSween
	Labour
	Donald MacSween is a member of the Western Isles Council and vice-chairman of the transport committee. He was an Independent Cllr for Tiumphan from 1999 until 2007, winning against the Lib Dems and the SNP in 1999 and against Labour in 2003. In 2007, he stood as a Labour candidate and was elected as the first of three Cllrs for the new Sgire an Rubha ward. Ministerial Posts: None Recent electoral experience As a Labour candidate 2007 Western Isles Council election, Sgire an Rubha, 497 First preference votes (38.44 %) (elected first of three cllrs) As an Independent 2003 Western Isles Council election, Tiumpan, 260 votes (62.20 %) (elected) 1999 Western Isles Council election, Tiumpan, 219 votes (47.82 %) (elected)
	Angus Brendan MacNeil MP
	Scottish National Party
	Angus B. MacNeil. Angus is a native Gaelic speaker from Barra. He was in School in Barra and the Nicholson Institute in Stornoway. He studied Civil Engineering at Strathclyde University and then worked as a reporter at the BBC in Inverness for 2 years before becoming a Primary Teacher. Angus worked for 2 years in Salen in Mull where he started the Gaelic Unit before moving to Fort William when he got married. Last year Angus returned to Barra to teach and now works in Eoligarry School at the north end of the island. At the 2001 Westminster election, Angus contested Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber where he came second with 25.6 %. In 2007, he defeated Dr Calum MacDonald who had held the Western Isles for Labour since the retiral of the Rt Hon Donald Stewart, SNP MP from 1970 until 1987. Angus B. MacNeil is possibly the best known MP of the 2005 intake, having instigated the police investigation onto the sale of honours. Recent electoral experience 2005 Westminster Parliament election, Na h-Eileanan An Iar, 6,213 votes (44.90 %) (elected) 2001 Westminster Parliament election, Inverness East, Nairn & Lochaber, 10,889 votes (25.64 %)
	Who?
	Conservative & Unionist
	Recent electoral experience.
	Who?
	Liberal Democrat
	Recent electoral experience

7 th June 2001 Westminster Election

Western Isles

Turnout: 13,159 (60.34 %)
Logo	Party	Candidate	Votes	%	% change
	Labour	Dr Calum MacDonald	5,924	45.02 %	- 10.58 %
	Scottish National Party	Alasdair Nicholson	4,850	36.86 %	+ 3.46 %
	Conservative	Douglas Taylor	1,250	9.50 %	+ 2.85 %
	Liberal Democrat	John Horne	849	6.45%	+ 3.38 %
	Scottish Socialist Party	Joanne Telfer	286	2.17 %	(+ 2.17 %)
	Labour hold	Labour majority	1,074	8.16 %	- 14.04 %