Candidates and Constituency Assessments

'Had Scotland's magnates accepted the Hanoverian succession late in the seventeenth century, things could have been different. The deal offered then involved a properly federal union, a matter of trade and mutual aid that did not attempt to subsume one nation within the institutions of another. It might not have worked. But, three centuries later, it begins to sound far-sighted.' Ian Bell in the Herald, 16 th January 2007.

Angus (North East Scotland Region)

Candidates

	Doug Bradley (Not standing on North East Scotland list)
	Labour
	Doug Bradley was born on 12 February, 1976 in Glasgow and attended Greenhill Primary School and Coatbridge High School before studying politics and human resource management at Strathclyde University. Having worked in a bank and in recruitment, he now works in communications and campaigns for a large disability charity. Doug joined the Labour Party in 1992 and is Treasurer of Glasgow South Constituency Labour Party. Doug was the Labour candidate for Angus at the 2005 UK General Election, gaining 18% of the vote and 3rd place behind the SNP's Mike Weir MP and the Tories' Sandy Bushby. His great grandfather, Michael McGivern, was Labour Provost of Coatbridge in the 1950s, while his grandfather James Flood was a T & G firebrand and ex-communist in the 1960s. Doug lives with his partner, Nicola Taylor-Rowan in the southside of Glasgow with their 2 cats, Katie and Borat. Nicola is also a Labour candidate, being number 2 on the list for Glasgow. He is also a member of the Fabian Society, Co-operative Party and the trade unions, Amicus and the GMB. His hobbies include the gym, running, boxing training and watching Manchester United and Rangers. Doug also enjoys good food, red wine and real ale. His favourite films include Withnail and I and the Empire Strikes Back. He likes comedy, in particular Frankie Boyle and Ricky Gervais. On television, he loves Top Gear, 24, the X-Files and Spooks. Music-wise, he listens to the Manic Street Preachers, the Jam and the Smiths. Recent electoral experience 2005 Westminster election, Angus, 6,850 votes (17.95 %)
	Alex Johnstone MSP (Also number 1 on North East Scotland list)
	Conservative & Unionist
	Alex Johnstone was born on the 31st July 1961 in Stonehaven and educated at Mackie Academy in Stonehaven. In 1980 he became a self-employed partner in family dairy and arable farm, and became the principle partner in 1993. He is married and an elder of the Church of Scotland. He contested Gordon in 1999 and Angus in 2003. At the 2005 Westminster election, while still an MSP, he contested West Aberdeenshire & Kincardine. In the Scottish parliament he was the Convener of the Rural Affairs Committee. He is now a member of the Procedures Committee and a substitute member of the Communities Committee. He is interested in information technology. Party positions 1999 - 2001 - Tory Spokesman on Rural Affairs 2001 - 2003 - Tory Business Manager 2003 - November 2005 - Tory Spokesman on the Environment & Rural Development November 2005 - Tory Spokesman on Energy & the Environment. Parliamentary positions 2003 - April 2004 - Member of the Parliamentary Bureau Recent electoral experience 2005 Westminster election, West Aberdeenshire & Kincardine, 11,814 votes (28.37 %) 2003 Scottish Parliamentary election, Angus, 6,564 votes (22.03 %) 2003 Scottish Parliamentary election, Second on Conservative North East Scotland list, 42,318 votes (17.37 %) (elected) 1999 Scottish Parliamentary election, Gordon, 6,602 votes (19.64 %) 1999 Scottish Parliamentary election, Third on Conservative North East Scotland list, 52,149 votes (18.27 %) (elected)
	Rev Scott Rennie (Not standing on North East Scotland list)
	Liberal Democrat
	Angus Liberal Democrats have announced the Rev Scott Rennie, Minister of the county's historic Brechin Cathedral, as their Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for the Angus Constituency in the forthcoming Scottish Elections. Scott Rennie (35) was born in 1972 has lived and been active in the Angus community for over seven years. A native of Aberdeen, he was educated at Bankhead Academy, Bucksburn, before studying Human and Social Geography and then Theology at the University of Aberdeen. Following his training for ministry with the Church of Scotland, he undertook Postgraduate studies at the acclaimed Union Theological Seminary in the city of New York (associated with Columbia University). Scott has a long history of involvement in Liberal politics and concerns: he was a past President of Aberdeen University Liberal Democrats and a local campaigner in Angus, and formerly Aberdeen. Scott has also been involved in liberal movements within the church, such as those working for an open and inclusive Church. Scott has one young daughter, and spends his spare time enjoying a game of football or golf, reading books - with novels, history and theology his favourites. Speaking about the forthcoming election, and the prospects for the Liberal Democrats in Angus; Scott was bullish. He said "I have great hopes for the Liberal Democrats in Angus, building on our considerable advances in the General Election of May 2005. I am ambitious for Angus. I want to see better promotion of enterprise, care of the environment in our county, and improved prospects for all of our young people. I am committed to being a strong voice for Angus in the Scottish Parliament, and to building on the strong contribution that the Liberal Democrats have made to the Executive and Coalition Government in Edinburgh". Recent electoral experience 2005 Westminster election, Angus, 6,660 votes (17.45 %) 1995 Aberdeen City Council election, Middlefield & Heathryfold, 21 votes (1.75 %)
	Andrew Welsh MSP (Not standing on North East Scotland list)
	Scottish National Party
	Andrew Weslsh was born on the 19 th April 1944 in Glasgow and educated at Govan High School in Glasgow and Glasgow University where he graduated with an MA(Hons) in Modern History and History and a Diploma in Education. He worked as a Modern Studies and History Teacher in Stirling until he was elected as MP for South Angus in October 1974. From 1979 until 1984 he was a Lecturer in Business Studies and Public Administration at Dundee College, and from 1984 until his election as MP for East Angus in 1987, he was 1984-1987 a Senior Lecturer in Business Studies and Public Administration at Angus College in Arbroath. Andrew was elected to the Scottish Parliament in May 1999 and was re-elected in May 2003, but he has been active in local and national politics since the 1970s. Before becoming an MSP, he was a local councillor (he was first elected to Stirling District Council in 1974) and served as Provost of Angus 1984-1987. He has also been the MP for the constituencies of South Angus (1974-1979), Angus East (1987-1997) and Angus (1997-2001). Andrew was a member of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body from 1999 to January 2005, where he took the lead in promoting the Parliament and in developing internal communications. He was Convener of the Audit Committee in Session 1 of the Parliament; and since 2000, he has been a member of the Scottish Commission for Public Audit. Andrew is also currently Deputy Convener of the Local Government and Transport Committee. Andrew lives in his constituency with wife Sheena and daughter Jane. In addition to politics, he is interested in languages, music and horse riding. Party Positions Vice President on the SNP's National Executive Committee Parliamentary Positions May 1999 - January 2005 - member of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body Local Government Positions 1984 - 1987 Provost of Angus Recent electoral experience 2003 Scottish Parliament election, Angus, 13,251 votes (44.48 %) (elected) 2003 Scottish Parliament election, Fifth on SNP North of Scotland list, 66,463 (27.28 %) 1999 Scottish Parliament election, Angus, 16,055 votes (46.49 %) (elected) 1999 Scottish Parliament election, Second on SNP North of Scotland list, 92,329 votes (32.35 %) 1997 Westminster election, Angus, 20,792 votes (48.27 %) (elected) 1992 Westminster election, East Angus, 19,006 votes (40.10 %) (elected) 1987 Westminster election, East Angus, 19,536 votes (42.39 %) (elected) 1983 Westminster election, East Angus, 15,691 votes (35.97 %) 1979 Westminster election, South Angus, 19,066 votes (41.51 %) (defeated) October 1974 Westminster election, South Angus, 17,073 votes (43.83 %) (elected) Angus District Councillor - 1987 Stirling District Councillor 1974

Constituency profile

Assessment:

This assessment is based on the 2003 election results

Rank on Conservative hit list: 23 (25 in 2003)
Swing required for Conservative gain: 11.23 % from Scottish National Party to Conservative

Rank on Labour hit list: 18 (14 in 2003)
Swing required for Labour gain: 14.07 % from Scottish National Party to Labour

Rank on Liberal Democrat hit list: 27 (23 in 2003)
Swing required for Liberal Democrat gain: 15.86 % from Scottish National Party to Liberal Democrat

Correlation to the new Westminster constituencies

The electorate of 59,896 was split between the new Westminster constituencies of:
Angus 35,969 (60.1 %
Dundee East 18,169 (30.3 %)
Dundee West 3,382 (5.7 %)
Perth & North Perthshire 2,376 (4.0 %)

Local Government wards in the constituency

Previous results

1 st May 2003 Holyrood Election - Constituency result

Electorate 60,608. Turnout 29,787, 49.15 % (- 8.51 %)
Logo	Party	Candidate	Votes	%	% change
	Scottish National Party	Andrew Welsh MSP	13,251	44.48 %	- 2.01 %
	Conservative & Unionist	Alex Johnstone MSP	6,564	22.03 %	+ 1.32 %
	Labour	John Denning	4,871	16.35 %	- 3.67 %
	Liberal Democrat	Dr Dick Speirs	3,802	12.76 %	- 0.02 %
	Scottish Socialist Party	Bruce Wallace	1,301	4.37 %	(+ 4.37 %)
	Scottish National Party hold	Scottish National Party majority	6,687	22.45 %	- 3.32 %

1 st May 2003 Holyrood Election - Regional list result

Electorate 60,608. Turnout 29,821, 49.20 % 204 rejected ballot papers
Logo	Party	Votes	%	% change
	Scottish National Party	10,273	34.45 %	- 2.49 %
	Conservative & Unionist	6,047	20.28 %	- 1.69 %
	Labour	4,881	16.37 %	- 6.19 %
	Liberal Democrats	3,087	10.35 %	- 2.77 %
	Scottish Green Party	1,816	6.09 %	+ 3.24 %
	Scottish Socialist Party	1,183	3.97 %	+ 3.15 %
	The Fishing Party	866	2.90 %	(+ 2.90 %)
	Pensioners's Party	842	2.82 %	(+ 2.82 %)
	Socialist Labour Party	281	0.94 %	- 0.12 %
	UK Independence Party	270	0.91 %	(+ 0.91 %)
	Steven Mathers (Independent)	147	0.49 %	(+ 0.49 %)
	Scottish Peoples Alliance	128	0.43 %	(+ 0.43 %)
	Scottish National Party majority	4,226	14.17 %	- 0.22 %

6 th May 1999 Holyrood Election - Constituency result

Logo	Party	Candidate	Votes	%	% change
	Scottish National Party	Andrew Welsh MP	16,055	46.49 %	- 1.78 %
	Conservative & Unionist	Dr Ron Harris	7,154	20.71 %	- 3.90 %
	Labour	Ian McFatridge	6,914	20.02 %	+ 4.39 %
	Liberal Democrat	Dr Dick Spiers	4,413	12.78 %	- 7.66 %
	Scottish National Party win	Scottish National Party majority	8,901	25.78 %	+ 2.12 %

6 th May 1999 Holyrood Election - Regional list result

Logo	Party	Votes	%
	Scottish National Party	12,763	36.94 %
	Labour	7,793	22.56 %
	Conservative & Unionist	7,589	21.97 %
	Liberal Democrats	4,532	13.12 %
	Scottish Green Party	985	2.85 %
	Socialist Labour Party	365	1.06 %
	Scottish Socialist Party	285	0.82 %
	Hamish Watt	100	0.29 %
	Natural Law Party	86	0.25 %
	Sleaze Buster	50	0.14 %
	Scottish National Party majority	4,970	14.39 %

1 st May 1997 Westminster Election

Logo	Party	Candidate	Votes	%
	Scottish National Party	Andrew Welsh MP	20,792	48.27 %
	Conservative & Unionist	Sebastian Leslie	10,603	24.61 %
	Labour	Catherine Taylor	6,733	15.63 %
	Liberal Democrat	Dick Speirs	4,065	9.44 %
	Referendum	Brian Taylor	883	2.05 %
	Scottish National Party win	Scottish National Party majority	10,189	23.66 %

Links

• Andrew Welsh MSP (Scottish National Party)