Candidates and Constituency Assessments

'Bush and Blair are the extremists. The danger for all of us is not in Baghdad but in Washington.' John Pilger, in Progressive Magazine, November 2002.

Cunninghame North (West of Scotland Region)

Candidates

	Kenneth Gibson (Also number 3 on West of Scotland list)
	Scottish National Party
	Kenneth Gibson was born in 1961 and educated at Bellahouston Academy in Glasgow and Stirling University where he graduated with a B.A. in Economics. He worked from 1982 until 1986 as a Systems Development Officer from British Steel and from 1987 until 1988 at the Glasgow Garden Festival. From 1988 until 1999 he works as a Sales Representative and a Trainer in the Pharmaceutical Inductry. He served on Glasgow District Council from 1992 to 1996 after winning the Mosspark ward from Labour and Glasgow City Council from 1995 to 1999, handing over his Mosspark ward to his mother Iris in 1999, a rare case of a mother succeeding her son. In 1999 he was elected as the third MSP for Glasgow, but due to an increase in support for the SSP and Greens was not re-elected in 2003. In the 1999 parliament he was the SNP's spokesperson on Social Justice, Housing and Urban Regeneration. He was Deputy Convener of the Social Justice Committee from September 2001 to March 2003. He proposed a Regulation of Smoking Bill in 2001 and a ome Safety Officers (Scotland) Bill in 2002. Council positions 1998 - 1999 Leader of the Opposition on Glasgow City Council Shadow Ministerial positions May 1999 - June 2001 - Shadow Minister for Local Government Recent electoral experience 2003 Scottish parliament election, Glasgow Pollok, 4,118 votes (19.12 %) 2003 Scottish parliament election, Fourth on SNP Glasgow list, 34,894 votes (17.96 %) (elected) 1999 Scottish parliament election, Glasgow Pollok, 6,763 votes (25.93 %) 1999 Scottish parliament election, Third on SNP Glasgow list, 65,360 votes (25.50 %) (elected) 1995 Glasgow City Council election, Mosspark, 2,916 votes (76.78 %) (elected) 1992 Glasgow District Council election, Mosspark, 1,884 votes (62.88 %) (elected) 1987 Westminster election, Monklands East, 4,790 votes (12.9 %)
	Lewis Hutton (Not standing on West of Scotland list)
	Liberal Democrat
	Lewis Hutton who was born in 1972 and educated at Hyndland Secondary in Glasgow, Southhampton University and Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen. He has worked as a freelance computer programmer and is currently employed by a publisher in Ayrshire. He is married and lives in Paisley. His interests include orienteering and running (Glasgow half marathon). He has contested Glasgow Shettleston twice, first at the 2001 Westminster election when he came fourth and at the 2003 Scottish parliamentary election when he came fifth. He came third in Paisley & Renfrewshire North in 2005. Recent electoral experience 2005 Westminster election, Paisley & Renfrewshire North, 7,464 votes (18.26 %) 2003 Scottish parliament election, Glasgow Shettleston, 779 votes (4.71 %) 2001 Westminster election, Glasgow Shettleston, 1,105 votes (5.40 %)
	Philip Lardner (Also number 3 on West of Scotland list)
	Conservative & Unionist
	The Tory candidate is Philip Lardner. He grew up in Inchinnan and was educated at Renfrew High School. His father was born locally in Saltcoats. Philip ran a small business in Linwood, before studying law at Glasgow University, and then becoming a primary school teacher in Erskine. He served in the Territorial Army for 5 years, and stood as a candidate for Renfrewshire Council in 1999 and 2003. He supports an extension to Hunterston B's licence until a replacement C Station can, and should be built. He is also categoric about opposing all windfarm developments within Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park. He maintains that Nuclear, combined with new Hydro-Electric schemes should be Scotland's answer to future energy and water requirements. However, small-scale development of renewables should be encouraged in isolated areas, if the local population are supportive. Recent electoral experience. 2005 Westminster election, Paisley & Renfrewshire North, 5,566 votes (13.61 %) 1999 Renfrewshire Council election, Erskine South & Inchinnan, 437 votes (19.68 %) 1999 Renfrewshire Council election, Parkmains, 354 votes (17.17 %)
	Campbell Martin MSP (Not standing on West of Scotland list)
	Independent
	Campbell Martin was born on the 10 th of March 1960 in Irvine and educated at Ardrossan Academy, and James Watt College in Greenock where he obtained a qualification in Social Sciences. In 1976 he became a craft apprentice at ICI and from 1980 until 1993 was involved in various work including as a labourer, club DJ, club steward, taxi driver, bus/coach driver and scaffolder. After two years as a mature student at James Watt College in Greenock, he worked first a Buyer from 1995 to 1997 then worked in Purchasing Liaison for British Aerospace Regional Aircraft. From June 1999 until February 2003, he was Parliamentary Assistant to Kay Ullrich, MSP for the West of Scotland Region, and from October 2001 until February 2003, Whip's Administrator SNP Parliamentary Group. In 1992, he won the Ardrossan North ward of Cunninghame District Council from Labour, but was defeated by Labour in 1995 when the Tories and Lib Dems also fielded candidates for the new North Ayrshire council ward. In 2003 he was elected as an SNP MSP for the West of Scotland. On the 23 rd April 2004 Campbell Martin was suspended from the SNP for a period of six months after public criticism of the leadership of John Swinney. He was expelled from the party on the 10 th July 2004 but continued to sit in the parliament as an independent. Campbell Martin says 'The big issue in the constituency - the North Ayrshire Council Schools PPP Project - has been one in which I have been heavily involved, including having a Member's Debate in Parliament on March 1 this year. This has brought many, many local people onside with the Independent Campaign to Win for the People. Our aim is not just to beat New Labour, but to put Cunninghame North on the map as the constituency where the people beat the political parties. This campaign isn't just me standing as an Independent. I am simply the candidate fronting the people's campaign, and we have a fantastic chance of success." Recent electoral experience As an SNP candidate: 2003 Scottish Parliament election, Cunninghame North, 7,755 votes (27.09 %) 2003 Scottish Parliament election, First on SNP West of Scotland list, 50,387 votes, (19.59 %) (elected) 2001 Westminster election, Cunninghame North, 7,173 votes (21.21 %) 1995 North Ayrshire Council election, 632 votes (37.15 %) 1992 Cunninghame District Council election, Ardrossan North, 770 votes (53.51 %) (elected)
	Allan Wilson MSP (Not standing on West of Scotland list)
	Labour
	Allan Wilson was born in Glasgow on the 5 th August 1954 and educated at Spiers School in Beith. He was a Trainee officer for NUPE from 1972 to 1975 and became an area Officer from 1975 to 1993 and was editor of the NUPE Scottish journal. From 1994 until his election in 1999 he was Head of higher education in Scotland with the public service union UNISON. He was a member of the Independent Review of Pay and Conditions in Higher Education Institutions (Scotland), Garnock Labour Club, Radio City Association, St Bridget's Social Club, Place Golf Club and founding member of arts for Labour's 'Red Wedge'. He was a member of the Executive of the Scottish Labour Party from 1992 - 1999. He is married and has two sons. Outside politics he was a keen footballer and a well known member of the Ayrshire football fraternity. Ministerial positions October 2000 - March 2001 - Deputy Minister for Sport & Culture March 2001 - November 2001 - Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture & Sport (reporting directly to Henry McLeish) November 2001 - October 2004 - Deputy Minister for Environment & Rural Development October 2004 - Deputy Minister for Enterprise & Lifelong Learning Recent electoral experience 2003 Scottish parliament election, Cunninghame North, 11,142 votes (38.92 %) (elected) 1999 Scottish parliament election, Cunninghame North, 14,369 votes (42.90 %) (elected)

Constituency profile

Assessment:

This assessment is based on the 2003 election results

Rank on Scottish National Party hit list: 13 (26 in 2003)
Swing required for Scottish National Party gain: 5.92 % from Labour to Scottish National Party

Rank on Conservative hit list: 16 (22 in 2003)
Swing required for Conservative gain: 9.78 % from Labour to Conservative

Rank on Liberal Democrat hit list: 24 (25 in 2003)
Swing required for Liberal Democrat gain: 15.39 % from Labour to Liberal Democrat

Correlation to the new Westminster constituencies

The electorate of 55,548 was split between the new Westminster constituencies of:
Ayrshire North & Arran: 55,548 (100.0 %)

Local Government wards in the constituency

Previous results

1 st May 2003 Holyrood Election - Constituency result

Electorate 55,319. Turnout 28,631, 51.76 % (- 8.20 %)
Logo	Party	Candidate	Votes	%	% change
	Labour	Allan Wilson MSP	11,142	38.92 %	- 3.99 %
	Scottish National Party	Campbell Martin	7,755	27.09 %	- 1.49 %
	Conservative & Unionist	Peter Ramsay	5,542	19.36 %	- 0.49 %
	Liberal Democrat	John Boyd	2,333	8.15 %	- 0.51 %
	Scottish Socialist Party	Sean Scott	1,859	6.49 %	(+ 6.49 %)
	Labour hold	Labour majority	3,387	11.83 %	- 2.50 %

1 st May 2003 Holyrood Election - Regional list result

Electorate 55,319. Turnout 28,652, 51.78 % 199 rejected ballot papers
Logo	Party	Votes	%	% change
	Labour	9,177	32.03 %	- 5.32 %
	Scottish National Party	6,526	22.78 %	- 5.07 %
	Conservative & Unionist	5,559	19.40 %	+ 2.53 %
	Liberal Democrats	2,039	7.12 %	- 1.22 %
	Scottish Socialist Party	1,723	6.01 %	+ 4.45 %
	Scottish Green Party	1,597	5.57 %	+ 2.65 %
	Scottish Senior Citizens Unity Party	798	2.79 %	(+ 2.79 %)
	Socialist Labour Party	534	1.87 %	+ 0.01 %
	Pro-Life Party	204	0.71 %	- 0.28 %
	Scottish Unionist Party	214	0.75 %	- 0.30 %
	UK Independence Party	172	0.60 %	(+ 0.60 %)
	Scottish Peoples Alliance	107	0.37 %	(+ 0.37 %)
	Labour majority	2,651	9.25 %	- 0.25 %

6 th May 1999 Holyrood Election - Constituency result

Logo	Party	Candidate	Votes	%	% change
	Labour	Allan Wilson	14,369	42.90 %	- 7.40 %
	Scottish National Party	Kay Ullrich	9,573	28.58 %	+ 10.14 %
	Conservative & Unionist	Mike Johnston	6,649	19.85 %	-3.61 %
	Liberal Democrat	Calum Irving	2,900	8.66 %	+ 3.14 %
	Labour win	Labour majority	4,796	14.32 %	- 12.52 %

6 th May 1999 Holyrood Election - Regional list result

Logo	Party	Votes	%
	Labour	12,536	37.35 %
	Scottish National Party	9,349	27.85 %
	Conservative & Unionist	5,664	16.87 %
	Liberal Democrats	2,798	8.34 %
	Scottish Green Party	981	2.92 %
	Socialist Labour Party	625	1.86 %
	Scottish Socialist Party	523	1.56 %
	Scottish Unionist Party	351	1.05 %
	Pro Life Alliance	331	0.99 %
	Canon Kenyon Wright	280	0.83 %
	Natural Law Party	65	0.19 %
	Independent Labour Keep Scotland's Water Public	64	0.19 %
	Labour majority	3,187	9.50 %

1 st May 1997 Westminster Election

Logo	Party	Candidate	Votes	%
	Labour	Brian Wilson MP	20,686	50.30 %
	Conservative & Unionist	Cllr Margaret Mitchell	9,647	23.46 %
	Scottish National Party	Cllr Kim Nicoll	7,584	18.44 %
	Liberal Democrat	Karen Freel	2,271	5.52 %
	Socialist Labour Party	Louise McDaid	501	1.22%
	Referendum	Ian Winton	440	1.07%
	Labour hold	Labour majority	11,039	26.84 %

Links

• Cunninghame North Tories
  
  
• Campbell Martin MSP (Independent)