Candidates and Constituency Assessments

'Helen Liddell may be standing down from parliament, but her Raj lifestyle will continue. Ms Liddell and her family are greatly taken with the wonderful country that is Australia and, by great and good luck, Labour were looking for someone to be high commissioner to this sunny land. Only cynics would point out that Helen's departure was in any way connected to leaving a clear electoral run in North Lanarkshire to Dr John Reid.' Tom Shields in the Sunday Herald, 10 th April 2005.

Airdrie & Shotts

Candidates

	Cllr Sophia Coyle
	Scottish National Party
	Sophia Coyle became the Cllr for New Monkland West since 2003 following the retiral of Sandra Cox. She was a member of the following council committees: Licensing Board, Policy & Resources (Personnel), Strategy & Policy Implementation, Community Services, Community Services (Community Development), Airdrie Area Committee, Planning & Environment (Protective Services), Social Work and Social Work (Planning & Administration). In 2007, she was elected as the first of four councillors in the new four member Airdrie North ward. At the 2007 Scottish Parliament election, she stood in Airdrie & Shotts against Karen Whitefield MSP, slashing the Labour majority from 35.8 % to 5.3 % and came within 1,446 votes of winning the seat. Recent electoral experience 2007 North Lanarkshire Council election, Airdrie North (elected first of four Cllrs) 2007 Scottish Parliament election, Airdrie & Shotts, 10,461 votes (38.52 %) 2003 North Lanarkshire Council election, New Monkland West, 724 votes (54.15 %) (elected)
	Ruth Whitfield
	Conservative & Unionist
	The Conservative candidate is Ruth Whitfield. Recent electoral experience.
	Labour
	Ministerial Posts: Recent electoral experience
	Who?
	Liberal Democrat
	Recent electoral experience

Westminster Election, 5 th May 2005

Electorate 61,955 Turnout: 53.52 %
	Rt Hon John Reid MP
	Labour
	Votes	19,568
	%	59.01 %
	% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)	- 0.38 % / - 3.45 %
	Malcolm Balfour
	Scottish National Party
	Votes	5,484
	%	16.54 %
	% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)	- 2.67 % / - 1.71 %
	Helen Watt
	Liberal Democrat
	Votes	3,792
	%	11.44 %
	% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)	+ 3.58 % / + 3.11 %
	Stuart Cottis
	Conservative & Unionist
	Votes	3,271
	%	9.86 %
	% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)	+ 3.74 % / + 3.55 %
	Fraser Coats
	Scottish Socialist Party
	Votes	706
	%	2.13 %
	% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)	- 1.56 % / - 1.95 %
	Joseph Rowan
	Scottish Independence Party
	Votes	337
	%	1.02 %
	% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)	(+ 1.02 %)
Notional Labour hold
Labour majority		14,084
% majority		42.48 %
% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)		+ 3.02 % / - 1.62 %

Notional 2001 result

Logo	Party	Denver			Baxter
		Votes	%		Votes	%
	Labour	20,125	58.63 %		20,083	62.46 %
	Scottish National Party	6,580	19.17 %		5,897	18.25 %
	Liberal Democrat	2,697	7.86 %		2,679	8.33 %
	Conservative & Unionist	2,100	6.12 %		2,030	6.31 %
	Scottish Socialist Party	1,278	3.72 %		1,304	4.08 %
	Others	1,548	4.51 %		186	0.58 %
Notional Labour win	Notional Labour majority	13,545	39.46 %		14,214	44.21 %