Douglas Henderson, ex Deputy leader of the SNP and MP for East Aberdeenshire from February 1974 until 1979 had been selected to contest this seat, however he passed away on the 15 th September 2006. On the 11 th of October 2006, the Falkirk East Constituency Association of the Scottish National Party have announced that they have unanimously selected leading nationalist Annabelle Ewing as their SNP candidate for the May 2007 Scottish Parliament election. Annabelle Ewing is the former SNP MP for Perth and daughter of former SNP President and nationalist stalwart, Dr Winnie Ewing. Prior to being elected to the House of Commons Annabelle ran a small legal practice representing people from all walks of life and working to find solutions to their problems. Accepting the candidature, Annabelle Ewing commented: 'I am delighted to have been selected to stand as the SNP candidate for the Falkirk East constituency. The May 2007 Scottish Parliament elections represent an historic opportunity for the people of Falkirk East to get rid of a mediocre Labour Government and to move Scotland forwards to being a normal and independent country. The seat is a two horse race between the SNP and Labour. I and the SNP team will be campaigning to win for the people of Falkirk East and Scotland.' Grangemouth Councillor Angus MacDonald welcomed Ms Ewing as the candidate stating: 'We are all very pleased that Annabelle has been chosen to stand in Falkirk East. She is an experienced and ferocious campaigner and will give 110% effort to ensure an SNP win in May. Falkirk East is a very winnable seat for the SNP and we will be fighting to win. It's time for a change in Falkirk East and Annabelle is the one to provide that change.'
As MP for Perth until the dissolution of parliament in April 2005, Annabelle was known as a spirited fighter for her constituents and her country. She has campaigned on a number of local jobs issues and general issues such as pensioner poverty, Hep C victims, Dungavel and Deepcut. She famously described the former Defence Secretary, Geoff Hoon as a 'backstabbing coward' following his betrayal of the Scottish Regiments. Annabelle was Depute Leader of the Westminster SNP Group and Westminster Spokesman on Home Affairs, Education & Skills and the Law Officers. Since her election, she was always on the list of the top ten hardest working Scottish MPs in the House of Commons.
Party positions
2001 - 2005 - Depute Leader of the Westminster SNP Group
2001 - 2005 - Westminster Spokesman on Home Affairs, Education & Skills and the Law Officers
Recent electoral experience
2005 Westminster parliament election, Ochil & South Perthshire, 13,957 votes (29.89 %)
2001 Westminster parliament election, Perth, 11,237 votes (29.59 %) (elected)
1999 Westminster parliament by-election, Hamilton South, 6,616 (34.01 %)
1999 Scottish parliament election, Stirling, 9,552 votes (26.68 %)
1999 Scottish parliament election, Sixth on the Scottish national party Mid Scotland & Fife list, 87,659 votes (28.68 %)
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Cathie Peattie was born on the 24 th November 1951 and educated at Moray Secondary School in Grangemouth. She worked in a shop from 1966 to 1968 then in a fectory until 1969. From 1970 until 1975 she was a training supervisor. She was a volunteer the a Field worker & Training Officer with the Scottish Pre-School Playgroup Association from 1975 until 1980 and from 1980 until 1986 respectively. In 1986 she became a Development worker for the Volunteer Network in Falkirk and in 1990 a community development worker at Langlees Community Flat in Falkirk. In 1991 she became Manager for Community Outreach and from 1993 until here election in 1999 she was Director of Falkirk Voluntary Action Resource Centre. In the parliament she is Convener of the Equal Opportunities Committee. In November 2001, when Jack McConnell appointed Patricia Ferguson as a Minister, Cathie Peattie was his nominee as Deputy Presiding Offer. However there was a rebellion in the secret ballot and she only received 45 votes compared to 68 for Tory Murray Tosh who was elected. She is married and a member of Amicus and Unison. At the 2003 election she was one of only ten Labour MSPs to increase her percentage vote and at plus 7.00 % was surpassed only by Jack McConnell.
Ministerial positions
None
Recent electoral experience
2003 Scottish parliament election, Falkirk East, 14,235 votes (51.65 %) (elected)
1999 Scottish parliament election, Falkirk East, 15,721 votes (44.65 %) (elected)
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