Candidates and Constituency Assessments

'The Scottish people did not vote for devolution to allow Westminster to cut our share of health funding, condemn a third of Scots to child poverty, see manufacturing output fall for nine months in a row, and allow Westminster to foist unwanted nuclear power stations on Scotland.' SNP Leader, John Swinney MSP, 28 th February 2002.

Tayside North (Mid Scotland & Fife Region)

Candidates

	Murdo Fraser MSP (Also number 1 on Mid Scotland & Fife list)
	Conservative & Unionist
	Murdo Fraser was born ion the 5 th September 1965 in Inverness and educated at Inverness Royal Academy, and Aberdeen University where he graduated with a LLB (Hons) and a postgraduate Diploma in Legal Studies. From 1990 until 2001 he worked as a solicitor in Aberdeen and Edinburgh and prior to his election to the Scottish Parliament was an associate with Ketchen and Stevens WS in Edinburgh, specialising in commercial law. Murdo first became active in politics at Aberdeen University and was Chairman of the Scottish Young Conservatives from 1989 to 1992, and Chairman of National YCs from 1991 to 1992, and aslo Deputy Chairman of Edinburgh Central Conservative Association. In the 1997 General Election, Murdo stood as the Conservative candidate for East Lothian, finishing in second place. He fought the North Tayside constituency for the Tories in the 1999 Scottish Parliament elections and again at the 2001 General Election. He became a Tory MSP for Mid-Scotland & Fife in August 2001 following the resignation of Nick Johnston. He is mrried to Emma Jarvis and is a member of the Church of Scotland, the Conservative Christian Fellowship, the Scottish Tory think tank "The Tuesday Club", and the Law Society for Scotland. His interests include hillwalking (Kilimanjaro and more than 100 Munros), cycling, classic cars, travel, Scottish history, and Rangers F.C. In he parliament he is Co-Convener of the Cross-Party Group in the Scottish Parliament on the Scottish Economy. Murdo Fraser became Tory Deputy leader following the resignation of David McLetchie over his taxi expenses. Tory Party Positions. November 2005 - Deputy leader of the Scottish Conservatives May 2003 - Tory Spokesperson on Enterprise Recent electoral experience. 2003 Scottish Parliament election, Tayside North, 10,466 votes (31.39 %) 2003 Scottish Parliament election, First on Tory Mid Scotland & Fife list, 43,941 votes (17.57 %) (elected) 1999 Scottish Parliament election, Tayside North, 12,594 votes (33.09 %) 1999 Scottish Parliament election, Fourth on Tory Mid Scotland & Fife list, 56,719 (18.56 %) 1997 Westminster Parliament election, East Lothian, 8,660 votes (19.94 %)
	Michael Marra (Not standing on Mid Scotland & Fife list)
	Labour
	Michael Marra was educated at St John's High School in Dundee and Glasgow University. He works in marketing for the University of Dundee. He has previously worked as a campaign manager for the Labour Party in Scotland and as an assistant and advisor to a Labour MSP. Recent electoral experience
	John Swinney MSP (Also number 1 on Mid Scotland & Fife list)
	Scottish National Party
	John Swinney was born on the 13 th April 1964 in Edinburgh and educated at Forrester School in Edinburgh and Edinburgh University where he graduated with an MA (Hons) in Politics. He worked as a Researcher for the Scottish Coal Project at Napier University in Edinburgh and then from 1987 until 1992 was a Managing consultant for Development Options Ltd and from 1992 until 1997 was in charge of Strategic planning principle with Scottish Amicable. John joined the SNP in 1979 and has held a number of posts at local and national level. In 1997 he was elected MP for North Tayside and MSP in 1999, remaining a dual mandate as MSP and MP until 2001 and became the SNP's Deputy Leader in 1998. In 2000, John was elected SNP Leader, becoming Leader of the Opposition in the Scottish Parliament. He stood down as SNP Leader in 2004 and is now Convener of the Scottish Parliament's European and External Relations Committee. John is married to Elizabeth Quigley and has two children. He lives near Blairgowrie, in his North Tayside constituency and in his leisure time, enjoys hill walking and cycling. Shadow Ministerial positions May 1999 - September 2000 - Deputy Leader of the Scottish Opposition & Shadow Minister for Enterprise & Lifelong Learning September 2000 - April 2003 - Shadow First Minister & Shadow Minister for Constitution & External Affairs May 2003 - September 2004 - Shadow First Minister September 2005 - Shadow Minister for Finance & Public Services Parliamentary positions September 2004 - September 2005 - Convener of the European & External Relations Committee Party positions September 1998 - September 2000 SNP Deputy Leader September 2000 - September 2004 SNP Leader Recent electoral experience 2003 Scottish parliament election, North Tayside, 14,969 votes (44.89 %) (elected) 2003 Scottish parliament election, First on SNP Mid Scotland & Fife list, 57,631 votes (23.04 %) 1999 Scottish parliament election, North Tayside, 16,786 votes (44.11 %) (elected) 1999 Scottish parliament election, First on SNP Mid Scotland & Fife list, 87,659 votes (28.68 %) 1997 Westminster parliament election, North Tayside, 20,447 votes (44.85 %) (elected) 1992 Westminster parliament election, Tayside North, 16,288 votes (37.48 %)
	James Taylor (Not standing on Mid Scotland & Fife list)
	Liberal Democrat
	James Taylor is 29 years old. He runs a successful entertainment company which works with artists as diverse as Scottish pop group Deacon Blue, Rolling Stones bassist Bill Wyman and jazz superstar Jamie Cullum.Ê As well as being a community councillor in his home town of Alyth and sitting on the Scottish Parliament's Cross Party Group on Popular Music James is also the co-founder of a charity which helps promotes music amongst young people. He is a community cllr and a member of the Liberal Democrats Arts Advisory Group at Westminster. He is married to Alison and lives in Alyth. Recent electoral experience

Constituency profile

Assessment:

This assessment is based on the 2003 election results

Rank on Conservative hit list: 8 (9 in 2003)
Swing required for Conservative gain: 6.78 % from Scottish National Party to Conservative

Rank on Labour hit list: 21 (17 in 2003)
Swing required for Labour gain: 17.16 % from Scottish National Party to Labour

Rank on Liberal Democrat hit list: 38 (31 in 2003)
Swing required for Liberal Democrat gain: 17.64 % from Scottish National Party to Liberal Democrat

Correlation to the new Westminster constituencies

The electorate of 61,727 was split between the new Westminster constituencies of:
Perth & North Perthshire: 30,790 (49.9 %)
Angus: 28,622 (46.4 %)
Ochil & South Perthshire:2,315 (38.8 %)

Local Government wards in the constituency

Previous results

1 st May 2003 Holyrood Election - Constituency result

Electorate 61,218 (Reported in the press as 62,697). Turnout 33,343, 54.47 % (- 7.11 %)
Logo	Party	Candidate	Votes	%	% change
	Scottish National Party	John Swinney MSP	14,969	44.89 %	+ 0.78 %
	Conservative & Unionist	Murdo Fraser MSP	10,466	31.39 %	- 1.70 %
	Labour	Gordon MacRae	3,527	10.58 %	- 4.47 %
	Liberal Democrat	Bob Forrest	3,206	9.62 %	+ 1.87 %
	Scottish Socialist Party	Rosie Adams	941	2.82 %	(+ 2.82 %)
	Scottish Peoples Alliance	George Ashe	234	0.70 %	(+ 0.70 %)
	Scottish National Party hold	Scottish National Party majority	4,503	13.51 %	+ 2.49 %

1 st May 2003 Holyrood Election - Regional list result

Electorate 61,218. Turnout 33,540, 54.79 % 214 rejected ballot papers
Logo	Party	Votes	%	% change
	Scottish National Party	11,923	35.78 %	+ 0.46 %
	Conservative & Unionist Party	9,576	29.73 %	- 2.07 %
	Labour	3,368	10.11 %	- 7.05 %
	Liberal Democrats	3,007	9.02 %	- 1.07 %
	Scottish Green Party	2,158	6.48 %	+ 2.62 %
	Scottish Socialist Party	984	2.95 %	+ 2.36 %
	Pensioners's Party	720	2.16 %	(+ 2.16 %)
	Save Local Hospitals - Dunfermline, Perth, Stirling	320	0.96 %	(+ 0.96 %)
	UK Independence Party	303	0.91 %	(+ 0.91 %)
	Fighting Hospital Closures & Downgrading	293	0.88 %	(+ 0.88 %)
	Socialist Labour Party	216	0.65 %	- 0.21 %
	Scottish Peoples Alliance	179	0.54 %	(+ 0.54 %)
	Tom Gray, Independent	119	0.35 %	(+ 0.35 %)
	Christian Independent Alliance Upholding Community Values	108	0.32 %	(+ 0.32 %)
	Damien Quigg, Independent	52	0.16 %	(+ 0.16 %)
	Scottish National Party majority	2,347	7.04 %	+ 3.52 %

6 th May 1999 Holyrood Election - Constituency Result

Logo	Party	Candidate	Votes	%	% change
	Scottish National Party	John Swinney MP	16,786	44.11 %	- 0.74 %
	Conservative & Unionist	Murdo Fraser	12,594	33.09 %	- 2.63 %
	Labour	Marion Dingwall	5,727	15.05 %	+ 3.77 %
	Liberal Democrat	Peter Regent	2,948	7.75 %	- 0.40 %
	Scottish National Party win	Scottish National Party majority	4,192	11.02 %	+ 1.89 %

6 th May 1999 Holyrood Election - Regional list result

Logo	Party	Votes	%
	Scottish National Party	13,458	35.32 %
	Conservative & Unionist Party	12,116	31.80 %
	Labour	6,536	17.16 %
	Liberal Democrats	3,844	10.09 %
	Scottish Green Party	1,469	3.86 %
	Socialist Labour Party	327	0.86 %
	Scottish Socialist Party	224	0.59 %
	Natural Law Party	69	0.18 %
	Pro Life Alliance	55	0.18 %
	Scottish National Party majority	1,342	3.52 %

1 st May 1997 Westminster Election

Logo	Party	Candidate	Votes	%
	Scottish National Party	John Swinney MP	20,447	44.85 %
	Conservative & Unionist	William Walker	16,287	35.72 %
	Labour	Ian McFatridge	5,141	11.28 %
	Liberal Democrat	Peter Regent	3,716	8.15 %
	Scottish National Party gain from Conservative & Unionist	Scottish National Party majority	4,160	9.13 %

Links

James Taylor (Lib Dem)