Candidates and Constituency Assessments

'Labour, instead of being the islands' men at the heart of Government, are the Government's men on the islands.' Alasdair Nicholson, June 2001.

Western Isles (Highlands & Islands Region)

Candidates

	Dr Alasdair Allan (Not standing on Highlands & Islands list)
	Scottish National Party
	Dr Alasdair Allan worked for the SNP in Peterhead then became assistant to Michael Russell MSP. Dr Allan was the author of 'Talking Independence', a booklet which answered questions about Scottish Independence such as 'the cautious 'What will I pay in tax?' to the almost incredible 'Will I be able to visit relatives in England' and 'Will we still get Eastenders''. The booklet was essential reading for all, whether supporters or opponents, who wanted to know more about what Scottish Independence would mean. Dr Alasdair Allan was next in line to become an MSP for North East Scotland when Richard Lochhead resigned to fight the Moray by-election, however he decided instead to devote himself to attempting to win the Western Isles from Labour. He relocated to Lewis and also resigned his post as SNP National Secretary. Party Positions - June 2005 - SNP National Secretary. Recent electoral experience 2003 Scottish parliament election, Gordon, 6,501 votes (22.57 %) 2003 Scottish parliament election, Fourth on SNP North East Scotland list, 66,463 votes (27.28 %) 2001 Westminster election, Aberdeen North, 8,708 votes (28.69 %) 1995 Aberdeen City Council election, Old Aberdeen, 153 votes (20.00 %)
	Ruaraidh Ferguson (Not standing on Highlands & Islands list)
	Liberal Democrat
	Ruaraidh was born in Kelso and brought up in Carham in Northumberland. He was at Berwick-upon-Tweed Grammar School, Lewis Castle College where he obtained an H.N.C. in Rural Development and the Open University where he obtained a Diploma in Environmental Policy and a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Studies. He spent his summer holidays at his maternal grandparents (Rodger) in North Tolsta in the Isle of Lewis and moved there with his wife, Iona, and baby daughter, Niketa in February 1989 to take up the position of Parts Manager with Macrae and Dick. In 1990 their son Conal was born. He now works for Western Isles Council at their Marybank depot in Stornoway but is also employed in what he calls "a much more interesting and enjoyable position" as Development Co-ordinator for Lewis and Harris Horticultural Producers. He is a Level 2 Athletics coach with Stornoway Running and Athletic Club and has also volunteered with a variety of youth and sporting organisations on the Island. He is a past chairperson of Tong School Board, a member of Laxdale Community Council and a member of Lewis and Harris Sports Council. Recent electoral experience
	Alasdair Morrison MSP (Not standing on Highlands & Islands list)
	Labour
	Alasdair Morrison was born on the 18 th November 1968 in Stornoway on Lewis and educated at Paible School, North Uist, the Nicolson Institute on the Isle of Lewis and at Glasgow Caledonian University. He worked as a broadcast journalist for BBC Stornoway & A Gaidheal Ur and then from 1991 - 1999 as editor of An Gaidheal Ur (The New Gael). He is married and is Convener of the Cross-Party Group on Golf. Alasdair Morrison is defending a majority of just 720 in the seat (remaned Na h-Eileanan an Iar) which the SNP gained from Labour at the 2005 Westminster election. Ministerial positions Deputy Minister for Enterprise, Lifelong Learning & Gaelic October 2000 - November 2001 Deputy Minister for Highlands & Islands & Gaelic May 1999 - October 2000 Recent electoral experience 2003 Scottish Parliament election, 5,825 votes (47.03 %) 1999 Scottish Parliament election, 7,248 votes (51.94 %)
	Dave Petrie MSP (Also number 5 on Highlands & Islands list)
	Conservative & Unionist
	Dave Petrie was born in Edinburgh on the 10 th December 1946 and was educated at Trinity Academy in Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt University where he graduated with a BSc in Civil Engineering, and Moray House School of Education (now part of Edinburgh University) where he obtained a PGCE in Mathematics. He worked as a Roads Department Engineer for Argyll County Council from 1971 to 1975 then as Roads and Water Services Chartered Engineer and Manager for Strathclyde Regional Council from 1975 until 1996. He was West of Scotland Water Manager from 1996 until 2002 and Scottish Water Community Relations Manager from 202 until 2003. From 2003 until 2004 he worked at Moray House School of Education and from 2004 until 2006 at Oban & Lochaber High School. He is married and is a member of the Church of Scotland. At the 2003 election, he was third on the Tory Highlands & Islands list replaced Mary Scanlon as MSP for Highlands & Islands region when she stood down to fight the Moray by-election. He was sworne in on the 19 th April 2006 and has since occupied the position of Conservative & Unionist spokesman for Communities. Party positions. 2006 - Conservative & Unionist spokesman for Communities Recent electoral experience. 2003 Scottish parliamentary election, Argyll & Bute, 5,621 votes (20.11 %) 2003 Scottish parliamentary election, Third on Tory Highlands & Islands list, 26,989 votes (16.01 %) 2001 Westminster parliamentary election, Argyll & Bute, 6,436 votes (20.79 %) 1999 Scottish parliamentary election, Argyll & Bute, 5,312 votes (16.51 %) 1999 Scottish parliamentary election, Fifth on Tory Highlands & Islands list, 30,122 votes (14.94 %)

Constituency profile

Assessment:

This assessment is based on the 2003 election results

Rank on Scottish National Party hit list: 6 (29 in 2003)
Swing required for Scottish National Party gain: 2.91 % from Labour to Scottish National Party

Rank on Conservative hit list: 61 (61 in 2003)
Swing required for Conservative gain: 21.03 % from Labour to Conservative

Rank on Liberal Democrat hit list: 48 (56 in 2003)
Swing required for Liberal Democrat gain: 21.51 % from Labour to Liberal Democrat

Correlation to the new Westminster constituencies

The electorate of 21,884 was split between the new Westminster constituencies of:
Na h-Eileanan an Iar: 21,884 (100.0 %)

Local Government wards in the constituency

1 st May 2003 Holyrood Election - Constituency result

Electorate 21,205. Turnout 12,387, 58.42 % (- 3.85 %)
Logo	Party	Candidate	Votes	%	% change
	Labour	Alasdair Morrison MSP	5,825	47.03 %	- 4.91 %
	Scottish National Party	Alasdair Nicholson	5,105	41.21 %	+ 4.27 %
	Conservative & Unionist	Frank Warren	612	4.94 %	- 2.91 %
	Liberal Democrat<	Conor Snowden	498	4.02 %	+ 0.75 %
	Scottish Socialist Party	Joanne Telfer	347	2.80 %	(+ 2.80 %)
	Labour hold	Labour majority	720	5.81 %	- 9.19 %

1 st May 2003 Holyrood Election - Regional list result

Electorate 21,205. Turnout 12,442, 58.67 % 152 rejected ballot papers
Logo	Party	Votes	%	% change
	Labour	4,638	37.74 %	- 1.85 %
	Scottish National Party	4,130	33.60 %	- 0.50 %
	Conservative & Unionist Party	1,111	9.04 %	- 0.28 %
	Liberal Democrats	735	5.98 %	+ 0.27 %
	Scottish Green Party	594	4.83 %	+ 2.33 %
	Scottish Socialist Party	525	4.27 %	+ 3.43 %
	Robbie the Pict	287	2.34 %	+ 1.71 %
	Socialist Labour Party	193	1.57 %	- 0.75 %
	UK Independence Party	97	0.79 %	(+ 0.79 %)
	The Countryside Party	65	0.53 %	(+ 0.53 %)
	Protect Rural Scotland	45	0.37 %	(+ 0.37 %)
	Scottish Peoples Alliance	39	0.32 %	(+ 0.32 %)
	The Rural Party	29	0.24 %	(+ 0.24 %)
	Arthur Robertson	7	0.06 %	- 0.01 %
	Labour majority	508	4.13 %	- 1.36 %

6 th May 1999 Holyrood Election - Constituency result

Logo	Party	Candidate	Votes	%	% change
	Labour	Alasdair Morrison	7,248	51.94 %	- 3.66 %
	Scottish National Party	Alasdair Nicholson	5,155	36.94 %	+ 3.54 %
	Conservative & Unionist	Jamie McGrigor	1,095	7.85 %	+ 1.21 %
	Liberal Democrat	John Horne	456	3.27 %	+ 0.20 %
	Labour win	Labour majority	2,093	15.00 %	- 7.20 %

6 th May 1999 Holyrood Election - Regional list result result

Logo	Party	Votes	%
	Labour	5,502	39.59 %
	Scottish National Party	4,739	34.10 %
	Conservative & Unionist Party	1,295	9.32 %
	Liberal Democrats	793	5.71 %
	Sir Iain Noble	391	2.81 %
	Scottish Green Party	347	2.50 %
	Socialist Labour Party	323	2.32 %
	Highlands & Islands Alliance	205	1.48 %
	Scottish Socialist Party	131	0.94 %
	Scottish People's Mission	87	0.63 %
	International Independent	56	0.40 %
	Natural Law Party	19	0.14 %
	Arthur Robertson	10	0.07 %
	Labour majority	763	5.49 %

1 st May 1997 Westminster Election

Logo	Party	Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	Calumn MacDonald	8,955	55.60 %
	Scottish National Party	Dr Anne Lorne Gillies	5,379	33.40 %
	Conservative & Unionist	James McGrigor	1,071	6.65 %
	Liberal Democrat	Neil Mitchison	495	3.07 %
	Referendum	Ralph Lionel	206	1.28 %
	Labour hold	Labour majority	3,576	22.20 %

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