Candidates and Constituency Assessments

'Jackson has been handed a reprieve but warned if he returns to the courts in future, he faces automatic deselection. However, there remains bad blood within the party over the case. One senior Labour source claimed last night that Jackson had threatened to resign immediately - thereby triggering a by-election - if the party chiefs had deselected him for next year's Holyrood vote.' Eddie Barnes, Political Editor in Scotland on Sunday, 9 th July 2006.

Glasgow Govan (Glasgow Region)

Candidates

	Gordon Jackson, QC MSP (Not standing on Glasgow list)
	Labour
	Born in the Ayrshire town of Saltcoats on 5th August 1948, Gordon Jackson obtained an law degree at the Dundee campus of St Andrews University. From 1971 to 1979 he held a private practice as a Solicitor, being called to the Scottish Bar in 1979 to become an Advocate. From 1987 to 1990 he was an Advocate Depute (Prosecutor) and in 1989 was called to the English Bar, making him one of the few lawyers who is both a Scottish Advocate and an English Barrister. He took silk in 1990, making him a Queen's Counsel and became one of Scotland's highest earning criminal defence lawyers. He was elected as MSP for Govan in 1999. He is currently Deputy Convener of the Justice and Home Affairs Committee. In view of Govan's shipbuilding interest, he is Convener of the Cross Party Group on Shipbuilding. He is also a member of the Cross Party Groups on Sport and Epilepsy. Despite being elected as an MSP, Gordon Jackson has continued his legal work and has even taken time off for certain cases. Scottish Parliament votes are taken at 5 pm, and one of the most damaging spectacles is when the chamber fills up with MSPs who have not bothered to attend the debate but who will vote whatever way their whips demand. Jackson is one of the worst offenders and has been nicknamed 'Crackerjack' after the children's programme which began with the cry 'It's Friday, it's five to five and it's Crackerjack!'. Since 1999, Gordon Jackson QC has often stated that he will give up his lucrative legal work, most recentlly in July 2006, but has continued to take on new cases. The Labour Party were considering holding a new selection contest in order to chose a candidate who is willing to work full time for the people of Govan. However, according to Labour sources, Jackson threatened to resign immediately and cause a by-election in Glasgow Govan if he were deselected. Ministerial positions None Recent electoral experience 2003 Scottish parliament election, Glasgow Govan, 7,834 votes (37.06 %) (elected) 1999 Scottish parliament election, Glasgow Govan, 11,421 votes (43.31 %) (elected)
	Martyn McIntyre (Not standing on Glasgow list)
	Conservative & Unionist
	Martyn McIntyre is 26 years old and has lived in Dumbarton all his life, having attended Dumbarton Academy between 1992 and 1998 and then graduating from Strathclyde University, with BA (hons) Politics in 2003. He currently works for West of Scotland Regional MSP, Murray Tosh as his Parliamentary Assistant and he is also currently Chairman of the West Dunbartonshire Conservative Association. He has some previous electoral experience having stood in the Barloan & Overtoun Ward of West Dunbartonshire in 2003 and then at the Dumbarton West by-election in June 2006. Recent electoral experience. 2006 West Dunbartonshire Council by-election, Dumbarton West, 58 votes (4.42 %) 2003 West Dunbartonshire Council election, Barloan/Overton, 350 votes (18.22 %)
	Elinor McKenzie (Also number 1 on Glasgow list)
	Communist Party of Britain
	Elinor McKenzie stood in Glasgow Central at the 2005 Westminster election, coming tenth with 80 votes. Recent electoral experience 2005 Westminster Parliament election, Glasgow Central, 80 votes (0.29 %)
	Asif Nasir (Also number 1 on Glasgow list)
	Independent
	Asif Nasir is aged 35. He was born in Pakistan and came to Scotland in 1981. He was educated at Ibrox Primary School and Bellahouston Academy. He worked in telemarking and customer services with british Telecom and Sky. He has run his own business for the past 9 years. He is a self-employed businessman with a foof business in Kilmarkock. He is married and has a seven year old son and lives in Govanhill. His interest include football, cricket, community work and meeting new people. He stood in Govan in 2003 as a candidate for the alternative to the Tories, the Scottish Peoples Alliance. He later joined the New Party but is standing as an independent. Recent electoral experience As a Scottish Peoples Alliance candidate: 2003 Scottish Parliament election, Glasgow Govan, 208 votes (0.98 %) 2003 Scottish Parliament election, First on Scottish Peoples Alliance Glasgow list, 612 votes (0.32 %)
	Nicola Sturgeon MSP (Also number 1 on Glasgow list)
	Scottish National Party
	Nicola Sturgeon was born in Irvine, Ayrshire in 1970. She was educated at Greenwood Academy, Irvine and Glasgow University where she studied Law and was awarded LLB (Hons) and Diploma in Legal Practice. Before entering the Scottish Parliament she worked as a solicitor at the Drumchapel Law and Money Advice Centre in Glasgow. Nicola was elected to the Scottish Parliament in 1999 and again in 2003. She represents the Glasgow Region. Since entering the Scottish Parliament in 1999, she has been the party's spokesperson on Education, Health & Community Care and Justice. She is currently the Group Leader of the Scottish National Party in the Scottish Parliament. In September 2004, she was elected Deputy Leader of the Scottish National Party. She is the Leader of the SNP Group in the Scottish Parliament and holds the Scottish Executive to account through First Minister's Question Time. Shadow Ministerial positions May 1999 - September 2000 - Shadow Minister for Children & Education September 2000 - April 2003 - Shadow Minister for Health & Community Care May 2003 - September 2004 - Shadow Minister for Justice September 2004 - Leader of the Opposition Scottish National Party positions 2004 - Scottish National Party Deputy leader 2004 - SNP Leader in the Scottish parliament Recent electoral experience 2003 Scottish Parliament election, Glasgow Govan, 6,599 votes (31.22 %) 2003 Scottish Parliament election, Second on SNP Glasgow list, 34,894 votes (17.96 %) (elected) 1999 Scottish Parliament election, Glasgow Govan, 9,665 votes (36.65 %) 1999 Scottish Parliament election, First on SNP Glasgow list, 65,360 votes (25.50 %) (elected) 1997 Westminster election, Glasgow Govan, 11,302 votes (35.05 %)
	Chris Young (Not standing on Glasgow list)
	Liberal Democrat
	Recent electoral experience

Constituency profile

Assessment:

This assessment is based on the 2003 election results

Rank on Scottish National Party hit list: 7 (5 in 2003)
Swing required for Scottish National Party gain: 2.92 % from Labour to Scottish National Party

Rank on Conservative hit list: 34 (40 in 2003)
Swing required for Conservative gain: 14.09 % from Labour to Conservative

Rank on Liberal Democrat hit list: 21 (36 in 2003)
Swing required for Liberal Democrat gain: 14.26 % from Labour to Liberal Democrat

Correlation to the new Westminster constituencies

The electorate of 53,689 was split between the new Westminster constituencies of:
Glasgow South: 18,477 (34.4 %)
Glasgow Central: 18,175 (33.9 %)
Glasgow South West: 17,040 (31.7 %)

Local Government wards in the constituency

Previous results

1 st May 2003 Holyrood Election - Constituency result

Electorate 48,635. Turnout 21,136, 43.46 % (- 6.06 %)
Logo	Party	Candidate	Votes	%	% change
	Labour	Gordon Jackson, QC MSP	7,834	37.06 %	- 6.25 %
	Scottish National Party	Nicola Sturgeon MSP	6,599	31.22 %	- 5.43 %
	Scottish Socialist Party	Jimmy Scott	2,369	11.21 %	+ 6.38 %
	Conservative & Unionist	Faisal Butt	1,878	8.89 %	+ 4.06 %
	Liberal Democrat	Paul Graham	1,807	8.55 %	2.94 %
	Independent	Razaq Dean	226	1.07 %	(+ 1.07 %)
	Communist Party Peace Democracy Socialism	John Foster	215	1.02 %	(+ 1.02 %)
	Scottish Peoples Alliance	Asif Nasir	208	0.98 %	(+0.98 %)
	Labour hold	Labour majority	1,235	5.84 %	- 0.82 %

1 st May 2003 Holyrood Election - Regional list result

Electorate 48,635. Turnout 21,159, 43.51 % 153 rejected ballot papers
Logo	Party	Votes	%	% change
	Scottish National Party	5,473	25.87 %	- 2.73 %
	Labour	5,335	25.21 %	- 13.18 %
	Scottish Socialist Party	3,233	15.28 %	+ 7.92 %
	Scottish Green Party	1,986	9.39 %	+ 4.49 %
	Conservative & Unionist Party	1,832	8.66 %	- 2.18 %
	Liberal Democrats	1,511	7.14 %	+ 0.42 %
	Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party	419	1.98 %	(+ 1.98 %)
	Scottish Peoples Alliance	303	1.43 %	(+ 1.43 %)
	British National Party	277	1.31 %	(+ 1.31 %)
	Scottish Unionist Party	259	1.22 %	+ 0.53 %
	Socialist Labour Party	219	1.04 %	+ 0.37 %
	Pro-Life Party	182	0.86 %	(+ 0.86 %)
	UK Independence Party	68	0.32 %	(+ 0.32 %)
	Communist Party Peace Democracy Socialism	62	0.29 %	- 0.10 %
	Scottish National Party majority	138	0.65 %

6 th May 1999 Holyrood Election - Constituency result

Logo	Party	Candidate	Votes	%	% change
	Labour	Gordon Jackson, QC	11,421	43.31 %	- 0.78 %
	Scottish National Party	Nicola Sturgeon	9,665	36.65 %	+ 1.60 %
	Conservative & Unionist	Tasmina Ahmed-Seikh	2,343	8.88 %	+ 0.07 %
	Liberal Democrat	Mohammed Aslam Khan	1,479	5.61 %	- 0.33 %
	Scottish Socialist Party	Charlie McCarthy	1,275	4.83 %	+ 2.49 %
	Communist Party of Britain	John Foster	190	0.72 %	+ 0.72 %
	Labour win	Labour majority	1,756	6.66 %	- 2.38 %

6 th May 1999 Holyrood Election - Regional list result

Logo	Party	Votes	%
	Labour	10,140	38.39 %
	Scottish National Party	7,555	28.60 %
	Conservative & Unionist Party	2,863	10.84 %
	Scottish Socialist Party	1,945	7.36 %
	Liberal Democrats	1,775	6.72 %
	Scottish Green Party	1,293	4.90 %
	Pro Life Alliance	216	0.82 %
	Scottish Unionist Party	183	0.69 %
	Socialist Labour Party	176	0.67 %
	Communist Party of Britain	103	0.39 %
	Humanist Party	60	0.23 %
	Natural Law Party	53	0.20 %
	Socialist Party of Great Britain	30	0.11 %
	Bridget McGeechan, The People Choice	21	0.08 %
	Labour majority	2,585	9.79 %

1 st May 1997 Westminster Election

Logo	Party	Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	Cllr Mohammad Sarwar	14,216	44.09 %
	Scottish National Party	Nicola Sturgeon	11,302	35.05 %
	Conservative & Unionist	William Thomas	2,839	8.81 %
	Liberal Democrat	Bob Stewart	1,915	5.94 %
	Scottish Socialist Alliance	Alan McCombes	755	2.34 %
	Independent	Peter Paton	325	1.01 %
	Independent Labour	Islam Badar	319	0.99 %
	Independent Conservative	Zahid Abbasi	221	0.69 %
	Referendum	Kenneth MacDonald	201	0.62 %
	BNP	Jim White	149	0.46 %
	Labour hold	Labour majority	2,914	9.04 %

Links

• Gordon Jackson QC MSP (Labour)
  
  
• Nicola Sturgeon MSP (SNP)
  
  
• Glasgow SNP