Candidates and Constituency Assessments

'One in four children and one in five pensioners live in poverty, we have been dragged into an illegal war on Iraq by Tony Blair and now he and New Labour want a new generation of expensive and dangerous nuclear power stations built in Scotland.' Aileen Campbell, June 2006.

Clydesdale (South of Scotland Region)

Candidates

	Aileen Campbell (Also number 5 on South of Scotland list)
	Scottish National Party
	Originally from Perthshire, Aileen Campbell grew up on her parents' tenant farm. In 1998 she moved to the West Coast to study Politics and History at the University of Glasgow. Aileen is currently national convener of the SNP youth wing, the Young Scots for Independence. Since graduating, Aileen has worked as editor of construction magazine Keystone and was editorial assistant on the pro-independence newspaper, the Scottish Standard. Aileen has also worked for Nicola Sturgeon and currently works as a researcher for Shona Robison MSP and Stewart Hosie MP. Upon her selection, Aileen Campbell said: "I am absolutely delighted to have received the nomination to be the SNP's candidate for Clydesdale. Clydesdale is an incredibly beautiful and diverse constituency and I am very proud to have the opportunity to serve the people here. I hope to bring a great deal of energy and enthusiasm into my political campaign and to show the people of Clydesdale that the SNP is the only real alternative to New Labour. We are not just another political party, but one that cares about the people of Scotland and one that wants to make a genuine difference to society by regaining Scotland's sovereignty. One in four children and one in five pensioners live in poverty, we have been dragged into an illegal war on Iraq by Tony Blair and now he and New Labour want a new generation of expensive and dangerous nuclear power stations built in Scotland. Closer to home, the roads and the transport systems in the constituency are a disgrace. I want to bring big changes to Clydesdale, I want to engage with the people, and to listen and act upon their concerns. The SNP can win Clydesdale and my campaigning starts now." Recent electoral experience
	Karen Gillon (née Turnbull) MSP (Not standing on South of Scotland list)
	Labour
	Karen Gillon was born on the 18 th August 1967 in Edinburgh and was educated at Jedburgh Grammar School and Birmingham University where she obtained a Certificate in Youth & Community Work. She worked as a Project Worker at Terminal 1 Youth Centre in Blantyre from 1991 to 1995 then as a Community Education Worker for North Lanarkshire Council from 1995 until 1997. From 1997 until her election in 1999 she was personal assistant to Helen Liddell, the MP for Airdrie & Shotts. She is a Christian and a member of Unison. In the 1990s she served on the STUC General Council and the Labour Party Scottish Executive.She is married to Jim and has two sons James and Matthew. In her spare time Karen likes to spend time with her family. Her hobbies include cooking, flower arranging and an unexplainable obsession with Cliff Richard. In the parliament she is Deputy Convener of the Procedures Committee, Co-Convener of the Cross-Party Group on Malawi and Deputy Convener of the Cross-Party Group on Sports. Ministerial positions None Recent electoral experience 2003 Scottish Parliament election, Clydesdale, 14,800 votes (45.62 %) (elected) 1999 Scottish Parliament election, Clydesdale, 16,755 votes (43.02 %) (elected - as Karen Turnbull)
	Fraser Grieve (Not standing on South of Scotland list)
	Liberal Democrat
	Fraser Grieve contested Clydesdale in 2003 and Lanark & Hamilton East in 2005. Recent electoral experience 2005 Lanark & Hamilton East, 5,576 (12.79 %) 2003 Scottish Parliament election, Clydesdale, 2,338 votes (7.21 %)
	Colin McGavigan (Also number 5 on South of Scotland list)
	Conservative & Unionist
	Clydesdale Conservatives have named Colin McGavigan as their candidate for next year's elections. Colin lives in Leadhills and works as a business development consultant. Speaking after his selection, Colin said: 'Living in Clydesdale, and being very familiar with all the communities that make up the constituency, I believe I am well placed to serve local people and to tackle the issues that are of most concern to the people of Clydesdale. My particular priorities are for tough action to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour, better job opportunities for local people, cleaning up our town centres, caring for our environment and ensuring that everyone can count on good quality, value for money public services. Labour have failed us on all of these counts, but next year you will have the chance to vote for a real change and for a better life for all local people. A vote for the Conservatives here in Clydesdale can help make it happen.' Recent electoral experience.

Constituency profile

Assessment:

This assessment is based on the 2003 election results

Rank on Scottish National Party hit list: 29 (10 in 2003)
Swing required for Scottish National Party gain: 10.28 % from Labour to Scottish National Party

Rank on Conservative hit list: 39 (29 in 2003)
Swing required for Conservative gain: 14.84 % from Labour to Conservative

Rank on Liberal Democrat hit list: 43 (24 in 2003)
Swing required for Liberal Democrat gain: 19.21 % from Labour to Liberal Democrat

Correlation to the new Westminster constituencies

The electorate 65,063 of was split between the new Westminster constituencies of:
Lanark & Hamilton East 44,968 (69.1 %)
Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale & Tweedale 10,067 (15.5 %) East Kilbride, Strathaven & Lesmahagow 10,028 (15.4 %)

Local Government wards in the constituency

Previous results

1 st May 2003 Holyrood Election - Constituency result

Electorate 63,675. Turnout 32,442, 50.95 % (- 9.66 %)
Logo	Party	Candidate	Votes	%	% change
	Labour	Karen Gillon (nee Turnbull) MSP	14,800	45.62 %	+ 2.60 %
	Scottish National Party	John Brady	8,129	25.06 %	- 8.00 %
	Conservative & Unionist	Alastair Campbell	5,174	15.95 %	+ 1.02 %
	Liberal Democrat	Fraser Grieve	2,338	7.21 %	- 1.78 %
	Scottish Socialist Party	Owen Meharry	1,422	4.38 %	(+ 4.38 %)
	Scottish Peoples Alliance	David Morrison	579	1.78 %	(+ 1.78 %)
	Labour hold	Labour majority	6,671	20.56 %	+ 10.60 %

1 st May 2003 Holyrood Election - Regional list result

Electorate 63,675. Turnout 32,501, 51.04 % 173 rejected ballot papers
Logo	Party	Votes	%	% change
	Labour	12,168	37.44 %	- 0.42 %
	Scottish National Party	7,295	22.45 %	- 6.76 %
	Conservative & Unionist	4,844	14.90 %	- 0.42 %
	Liberal Democrats	2,054	6.32 %	- 1.55 %
	Scottish Socialist Party	2,004	6.17 %	+ 5.05 %
	Scottish Green Party	1,765	5.43 %	+ 2.81 %
	Pensioners Party	1,503	4.62 %	(+ 4.62 %)
	Scottish Peoples Alliance	367	1.13 %	(+ 1.13 %)
	Socialist Labour Party	280	0.86 %	- 3.77 %
	UK Independence Party	181	0.56 %	(+ 0.56 %)
	Am Partaidh Dhuthchail The Rural Party	40	0.12 %	(+ 0.12 %)
	Labour majority	4,873	14.99 %	+ 6.34 %

6 th May 1999 Holyrood Election - Constituency Result

Logo	Party	Candidate	Votes	%	% change
	Labour	Karen Turnbull	16,755	43.02 %	- 9.54 %
	Scottish National Party	Cllr Anne Winning	12,875	33.06 %	+ 10.93 %
	Conservative & Unionist	Charles Cormack	5,814	14.93 %	- 1.36 %
	Liberal Democrat	Sandra Grieve	3,503	8.99 %	+ 0.63 %
	Labour win	Labour majority	3,880	9.96 %	- 20.45 %

6 th May 1999 Holyrood Election - Regional list result

Logo	Party	Votes	%
	Labour	14,757	37.86 %
	Scottish National Party	11,384	29.21 %
	Conservative & Unionist	5,972	15.32 %
	Liberal Democrats	3,069	7.87 %
	Socialist Labour Party	1,806	4.63 %
	Scottish Green Party	1,021	2.62 %
	Scottish Socialist Party	436	1.12 %
	Liberal Party	272	0.70 %
	UK Independence Party	162	0.42 %
	Natural Law Party	95	0.24 %
	Labour majority	3,373	8.65 %

1 st May 1997 Westminster Election

Logo	Party	Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	James Hood MP	23,859	52.54 %
	Scottish National Party	Andrew Doig	10,050	22.13 %
	Conservative & Unionist	Mark Izatt	7,396	16.29 %
	Liberal Democrat	Sandra Grieve	3,796	8.36%
	British National Party	Kenneth Smith	311	0.68%
	Labour hold	Labour majority	13,809	30.41 %

Links

• Aileen Campbell (Scotish National Party)
  
  
• Aileen Campbell (Video casts)
  
  
• Clydesdale SNP
  
  
• Colin McGavigan (Conservative)