Candidates and Constituency Assessments

'The position of the Labour Party going into the Scottish Parliament elections will be that we would not, on principle, block an application for a new nuclear power station in Scotland.' Dr Elaine Murray MSP, 2 nd July 2006.

Dumfries (South of Scotland Region)

Candidates

	Lynne Hume (Not standing on South of Scotland list)
	Liberal Democrat
	Recent electoral experience
	Dr Elaine Murray MSP (Not standing on South of Scotland list)
	Labour
	Dr Elaine Murray was born on the 22 nd December 1954 in Hitchen, Herfordshire and was educated at Edinburgh University where she graduated with a BSC (Hons) in Chemistry and Cambridge University where she graduated with a PhD in Physical Chemistry. She worked as a Post-doctoral research fellow at the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge from 1979 to 1981 then as a Post-doctoral research fellow at the Royal Free Hospital in London from 1981 to 1984. She was a Senior scientific officer at the Institute of Food Research in Reading from 1984 until 1987, and then from 1990 to 1993 was Assistant to Alex Smith, the Labour MEP for South of Scotland. From 1992 until her election in 1999 the was an Associate chemistry lecturer at the Open University. She was also a Strathclyd Regional Cllr for 1994 to 1996 and a South Ayrshire Cllr from 1995 until 1999. S Murray is married and lives in Dumfries with he three children. She is a Christian and a member of the AUT and the TGWU. Her interests include reading, music and horse-riding. In the parliament she is the Secretary of the Cross-Party Group on the Civil Nuclear Industry. Ministerial positions November 2001 - May 2003 - Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture & Sport Recent electoral experience 2003 Scottish Parliament election, Dumfries, 12,834 votes (39.97 %) (elected) 1999 Scottish Parliament election, Dumfries, 14,101 votes (36.64 %) (elected) 1995 South Ayrshire Council election, Dundonald, 1,067 votes (51.77 %) (elected) 1994 Strathclyde Regional Council electio, Ayr South, Coylington & Annebank, 4,875 votes (51.90 %) (elected)
	Michael Russell (Also number 2 on South of Scotland list
	Scottish National Party
	Michael was born in Bromley in Kent in 1953 and was educated at Marr College in Troon and Edinburgh University where he graduated with an MA in Scottish History and Literature. He worked as Creative Producer with the Church of Scotland from 1974 until 1977, as Director of Cinema Sgire in the Western Isles from 1977 until 1981, as Secretary General of the Association of Film & TV in the Celtic Countries from 1983 until 1991 and as Director of Ela Bhan from 1991. Michael was the SNP's Chief Executive for the SNP from 1994 until his election in 1999. He directed the 1997 General Election campaign and the by-elections in Perth and Paisley South. Michael Russell is also Convenor of the SNP Internet Support Group From 1999 - 2003 he was MSP for South of Scotland, Shadow Minister for Children and Education, and SNP spokesperson on Culture, Broadcasting and Gaelic, as well as serving on the ParliamentŐs Education, Culture and Sport Committee. In 2004 he stood for the SNP leadership, coming third with 631 votes (9.7 %) compared to 953 (14.6 %) for Roseanna Cunningham and 4,952 (75.6 %) for Alex Salmond. He is also a published author and edited Winnie Ewing autobigraphy "Stop the World". Shadow Ministerial Posts September 2000 - April 2003 - Shadow Minister for Children & Education May 1999 - September 2000 - Business Manager & Shadow Minister for Broadcasting & Gaelic Recent electoral experience 2003 Scottish parliament election, Cunninghame South, 5,089 votes (22.35 %) 2003 Scottish parliament election, Fourth on SNP South of Scotland list, 48,371 votes (18.37 %) 1999 Scottish parliament election, Cunninghame South, 8,395 votes (29.69 %) 1999 Scottish parliament election, Second on SNP South of Scotland list, 80,059 votes (25.15 %) (elected) 1987 Westminster election, Clydesdale, 7,125 votes (14.8 %)
	Neil Murray Tosh MSP (Also number 4 on South of Scotland list)
	Conservative & Unionist
	Murray Tosh was born on the 1 st September 1950 in Ayr and educated at Kilmarnock Academy, Glasgow University where he graduated with an MA(Hons) in History and Politics, and Jordanhill College of Education in Glasgow where he obtained a Qualification in Secondary School Teaching. He worked as a History Teacher at Ravenspark Academy in Irvine from 1975 to 1977, as Principal Teacher of History at Kilwinning Academy from 1977 to 1984, then as Principal Teacher of History at Belmont Academy in Ayr from 1984 until his election in 1999. Tosh was President Liberal of Glasgow University Liberal Club and contested Ayr for them in October 1974. By 1983 he had joined the Tories and he stood in Glasgow Hillhead against Roy Jenkins, coming third. From 1987 to 1996 he was a Kyle &Carrick District Cllr, and was Deputy leader of the Tory group from 1992 to 1996. In 1999 he was elected as the fourth South of Scotland MSP, and in 2003 as the fifth West of Scotland MSP. Since the resignation of Patricia Ferguson to become a Minister in November 2001, he has been a Deputy Pesiding Officer, having the Executive's nominee Cathie Peattie, an he is seen as a potential Presiding Officer after May 2007. Parliamentary positions November 2001 - Deputy Presiding Officer Party positions May 1999 - November 2001 - Tory Spokesman on Transport & the Environment Recent electoral experience. As a Conservative candidate: 2003 Scottish Parliament election, Dumbarton, 4,178 votes (14.50 %) 2003 Scottish Parliament election, Second on Tory West of Scotland list, 40,261 votes (15.66 %) (elected) 1999 Scottish Parliament election, Cunninghame South, 3,229 votes (11.42 %) 1999 Scottish Parliament election, Third on Tory South of Scotland list, 68,904 votes (21.64 %) (elected) 1987 - 1996, Kyle & Carrick District Cllr. 1983 Westminster election, Glasgow Hillhead, 9,638 votes (23.50 %) As a Liberal candidate: October 1974 Westminster election, Ayr, 2,611 votes (6.33 %)

Constituency profile

Assessment:

This assessment is based on the 2003 election results

Rank on Conservative hit list: 2 (7 in 2003)
Swing required for Conservative gain: 1.71 % from Labour to Conservative

Rank on Scottish National Party hit list: 45 (36 in 2003)
Swing required for Scottish National Party gain: 13.87 % from Labour to Scottish National Party

Rank on Liberal Democrat hit list: 29 (4 in 2003)
Swing required for Liberal Democrat gain: 16.26 % from Labour to Liberal Democrat

Correlation to the new Westminster constituencies

The electorate of 63,515 was split between the new Westminster constituencies of:
Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale & Tweedale 34,747
Dumfries & Galloway 28,768

Local Government wards in the constituency

Previous results

1 st May 2003 Holyrood Election - Constituency result

Electorate 61,517. Turnout 32,110, 52.20 % (- 8.57 %)
Logo	Party	Candidate	Votes	%	% change
	Labour	Dr Elaine Murray MSP	12,834	39.97 %	+ 3.23 %
	Conservative & Unionist	David Mundell MSP	11,738	36.56 %	+ 9.34 %
	Scottish National Party	Andrew Wood	3,931	12.24 %	- 7.67 %
	Liberal Democrat	Clare Hamblen	2,394	7.46 %	- 8.72 %
	Scottish Socialist Party	John Dennis	1,213	3.78 %	(+ 3.78 %)
	Labour hold	Labour majority	1,096	3.41 %	- 6.11 %

1 st May 2003 Holyrood Election - Regional list result

Electorate 61,517. Turnout 32,046, 52.09 % 226 rejected ballot papers
Logo	Party	Votes	%	% change
	Conservative & Unionist	10,202	31.84 %	+ 7.15 %
	Labour	9,788	30.54 %	+ 0.15 %
	Scottish National Party	4,264	13.31 %	- 8.43 %
	Liberal Democrats	3,122	9.74 %	- 2.15 %
	Pensioners Party	1,393	4.35 %	(+ 4.35 %)
	Scottish Socialist Party	1,236	3.86 %	+ 3.10 %
	Scottish Green Party	1,115	3.48 %	+ 1.15 %
	Socialist Labour Party	498	1.55 %	(+ 1.55 %)
	UK Independence Party	264	0.82 %	(+ 0.82 %)
	Scottish Peoples Alliance	123	0.38 %	(+ 0.38 %)
	Am Partaidh Dhuthchail The Rural Party	41	0.13 %	(+ 0.13 %)
	Conservative & Unionist majority	414	1.29 %

6 th May 1999 Holyrood Election - Constituency Result

Logo	Party	Candidate	Votes	%	% change
	Labour	Cllr Dr Elaine Murray	14,101	36.64 %	- 10.87 %
	Conservative & Unionist	David Mundell	10,447	27.15 %	- 0.89 %
	Scottish National Party	Stephen Norris	7,625	19.81 %	+ 7.74 %
	Liberal Democrat	Neil Wallace	6,209	16.39 %	+ 5.31 %
	Labour win	Labour majority	3,654	9.49 %	- 9.98 %

6 th May 1999 Holyrood Election - Regional list result

Logo	Party	Votes	%
	Labour	11,670	30.39 %
	Conservative & Unionist	9,481	24.69 %
	Scottish National Party	8,347	21.74 %
	Liberal Democrats	4,564	11.89 %
	Socialist Labour Party	2,118	5.52 %
	Scottish Green Party	894	2.33 %
	Liberal Party	599	1.56 %
	UK Independence Party	308	0.80 %
	Scottish Socialist Party	293	0.76 %
	Natural Law Party	123	0.32 %
	Labour majority	2,189	5.70 %

1 st May 1997 Westminster Election

Logo	Party	Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	Cllr Russell Brown	23,528	47.51 %
	Conservative & Unionist	Struan Stevenson	13,885	28.04 %
	Scottish National Party	Cllr Robert Higgins	5,977	12.07 %
	Liberal Democrat	Neil Wallace	5,487	11.08 %
	Referendum	David Parker	533	1.08 %
	Natural Law	Liz Hunter	117	0.24 %
	Labour gain from Conservative & Unionist	Labour majority	9,643	19.47 %

Links

• Dumfries SNP