Candidates and Constituency Assessments

' In an internal memo that has been passed to The Herald, he (Glasgow MSP Robert Brown) says of the proposals for student loan and graduate endowment repayments: 'I think this is rather clumsy and distinctly unsatisfactory to have different levels in Scotland and in England. However, I think it will do the trick for us.' Robbie Dinwoodie in the Herald 30 th March 2001.

Edinburgh West (Lothians Region)

Candidates

	Sheena Cleland (Also number 11 on Lothians list)
	Scottish National Party
	Sheena stood for the Scottish Parliament in 2003 on the Lothians list. She is Convener of West Edinburgh Branch SNP where she has stood three times for council wards. From 1999-2004 she worked with Professor Sir Neil MacCormick MEP in his constituency office in Edinburgh. During the 2001 General Election, Sheena acted as International Media Press Officer for the SNP, as well as being Campaign Manager locally. Born in Edinburgh, Sheena graduated from Edinburgh University with an MA Hons in French and Italian. She now runs her own communications business. Sheena is married and lives in Edinburgh. Recent electoral experience 2005 Westminster election, Edinburgh West, 4,124 votes (9.11 %) 2003 Scottish Parliament election, Tenth on SNP Lothians list, 43,142 votes (16.24 %) 2003 Edinburgh City Council election, Dalmeny/Kirkliston, 496 votes (21.62 %) 2001 Edinburgh City Council by-election, South East Corstorphine, 109 votes (5.48 %)
	Gordon Lindhurst (Also number 4 on Lothians list)
	Conservative & Unionist
	Gordon Lindhurst is 38 years old, single and lives in West Lothian. He studied Scots Law at Edinburgh University and undertook further legal studies, including European law, at Glasgow and Heidelberg universities. He works as an advocate and is a former teacher of English in Germany. His interests include cabinet making, metalworking, voluntary work, hillwalking and cycling. Recent electoral experience. 2005 Westminster by-election, Livingston, 1,993 votes (6.76 %) 2003 Scottish Parliament election, Linlithgow, 3,059 votes (11.07 %) 2001 Westminster election, Linlithgow & Falkirk East, 2,836 votes (9.0 %) 1999 Scottish Parliament election, Linlithgow, 3,158 votes (9.4 %)
	Richard Meade (Not standing on Lothians list)
	Labour
	Richard Meade has been selected to replace Robert Bell as Labour Party candidate after Mr Bell collapsed and was rushed to Edinburgh Royal for life saving surgery. This took place in mid February ago and Mr Bell is slowly recovering at home. Richard Meade was employed as a Project Officer for NHS Quality Improvement Scotland. Before moving to the NHS he worked in the Home Office in the Strategic Policy Team. He studied History and Politics at Stirling University and following graduation served a term as Vice President and Treasurer at the Students' Association. He contested Orkney in 2003 and Orkney & Shetland in 2005. Recent electoral experience 2005 Westminster Parliament election, Orkney & Shetland, 2,511 votes (14.15 %) 2003 Scottish Parliament election, Orkney, 471 votes (5.88 %)
	Margaret Smith MSP (Not standing on Lothians list)
	Liberal Democrat
	Margaret Smith was born in Edinburgh in 1961 and educated at Broughton High School and Edinburgh University. She worked with Guardian Royal Exchange and then for the Land Register (Scotland). She was elected to the ew City of Edinburgh Council in 1995 and was transport spokesman from 1997 until 1999 when she was elected as MSP for Edinburh West. She was a surprise candidate, beat the highly respected veteran Lib Dem Councillor and sitting Edinburgh West MP Donald Gorrie, who was considered to be "too old" by local Lib Dems. Gorrie was elected as a list MSP for Central Scotland in 1999 and again in 2003. She is currently the Lib Dem Chief Whip and Deputy Convener of the Equal Opportunities Committee. After the 2003 election she annouced that she was the partner of another woman and in February 2006, Ms Smith announced that she would be registering her civil partnership with Suzanne Main. Ministerial positions None Party positions Lib Dem Whip Recent electoral experience 2003 Scottish Parliamentary election, Edinburgh West, 14,434 votes (43.3 %) (elected) 1999 Scottish Parliamentary election, Edinburgh West, 15,161 votes (36.5 %) (elected) 1995 Unitary Council election, Edinburgh, Cramond, 1,474 votes (41.5 %) (elected with a majority of 14)
	John Wilson (Not standing on Lothians list)
	Independent
	Recent electoral experience

Constituency profile

Assessment:

This assessment is based on the 2003 election results

Rank on Conservative hit list: 15 (8 in 2003)
Swing required for Conservative gain: 8.88 % from Liberal Democrat to Conservative

Rank on Labour hit list: 19 (8 in 2003)
Swing required for Labour gain: 14.10 % from Liberal Democrat to Labour

Rank on Scottish National Party hit list: 50 (46 in 2003)
Swing required for Scottish National Party gain: 15.47 % from Liberal Democrat to Scottish National Party

Correlation to the new Westminster constituencies

The electorate of 62,331 was split between the new Westminster constituencies of:
Edinburgh West: 55,666 (94.0 %)
Edinburgh North & Leith: 3,565 (6.0 %)

Local Government wards in the constituency

Previous results

1 st May 2003 Holyrood Election - Constituency result

Electorate 60,136. Turnout 33,301, 55.38 % (- 11.97 %)
Logo	Party	Candidate	Votes	%	% change
	Liberal Democrat	Margaret Smith MSP	14,434	43.34 %	+ 6.88 %
	Conservative & Unionist	Lord Selkirk of Douglas MSP	8,520	25.58 %	+ 0.14 %
	Labour	Carol Fox	5,046	15.15 %	- 6.16 %
	Scottish National Party	Alyn Smith	4,133	12.41 %	- 5.61 %
	Scottish Socialist Party	Pat Smith	993	2.98 %	(+ 2.98 %)
	Scottish Peoples Alliance	Bruce Skivington	175	0.53 %	(+ 0.53 %)
	Liberal Democrat hold	Liberal Democrat majority	5,914	17.76 %	+ 6.74 %

1 st May 2003 Holyrood Election - Regional list result

Electorate 60,136. Turnout 33,331, 55.43 % 150 rejected ballot papers
Logo	Party	Votes	%	% change
	Liberal Democrats	7,745	23.24 %	- 1.10 %
	Conservative & Unionist Party	7,308	21.93 %	- 1.36 %
	Labour	5,246	15.74 %	- 5.73 %
	Scottish National Party	3,801	11.40 %	- 9.03 %
	Margo MacDonald MSP (Independent)	3,248	9.74 %	(+ 9.74 %)
	Scottish Green Party	2,876	8.63 %	+ 4.03 %
	Scottish Socialist Party	1,172	3.52 %	+ 2.28 %
	Pensioners's Party	665	2.00 %	(+ 2.00 %)
	Liberal Party In Scotland	632	1.90 %
	Socialist Labour Party	149	0.45 %	- 2.32 %
	UK Independence Party	137	0.41 %	(+ 0.41 %)
	Scottish Peoples Alliance	125	0.38 %	(+ 0.38 %)
	Adam Lyle's Witchery Tour Party	112	0.34 %
	Pro-Life Party	53	0.16 %	+ 0.01 %
	Mary Campbell (Independent)	30	0.09 %
	Alexander Scott (Independent)	22	0.07 %
	Peter Gatensbury (Independent)	10	0.03 %
	Liberal Democrat majority	437	1.31 %	+ 0.26 %

6 th May 1999 Holyrood Election

Logo	Party	Candidate	Votes	%	% change
	Liberal Democrat	Cllr Margaret Smith	15,161	36.46 %	- 6.74 %
	Conservative &Unionist	Lord Selkirk of Douglas	10,578	25.44 %	- 2.54 %
	Labour	Carol Fox	8,860	21.31 %	+ 2.52 %
	Scottish National Party	Graham Sutherland	6,984	16.80 %	+ 7.96 %
	Liberal Democrat win	Liberal Democrat majority	4,583	11.02 %	- 4.20 %

6 th May 1999 Holyrood Election - Regional list vote result

Logo	Party	Votes	%
	Liberal Democrats	9,623	24.34 %
	Conservative & Unionist Party	9,204	23.29 %
	Labour	8,487	21.47 %
	Scottish National Party	8,073	20.43 %
	Scottish Green Party	1,818	4.60 %
	Socialist Labour Party	1,093	2.77 %
	Scottish Socialist Party	490	1.24 %
	ProLife Alliance	59	0.15 %
	Natural Law Party	44	0.11 %
	Others: Liberal Party Witchery Tour Party Civil Rights Movement Braveheart Socialist Party of Great Britain Independent Voice for Scottish Parliament Independent Independent Anti-Corruption, Mobile Home Scandal, Roads (No breakdown available)	633	1.60 %
	Liberal Democrat majority	419	1.05 %

1 st May 1997 Westminster Election

Logo	Party	Candidate	Votes	%
	Liberal Democrat	Cllr Donald Gorrie	20,578	43.20 %
	Conservative & Unionist	Lord James Douglas-Hamilton	13,325	27.98 %
	Labour	Lesley Hinds	8,948	18.79 %
	Scottish National Party	Graham Sutherland	4,210	8.84 %
	Referendum	Stephen Elphick	277	0.58%
	Liberal	Paul Coombes	263	0.55%
	Anti Sleaze	Antony Jack	30	0.06%
	Liberal Democrat gain from Conservative	Liberal Democrat majority	7,253	15.22 %

Links

• Edinburgh & Lothians SNP
  
  
• Edinburgh West Conservatives
  
  
• Edinburgh West Labour
  
  
• Margerat Smith MSP (Lib Dem)