Candidates and Constituency Assessments

'I have been fascinated to read the Hutton report. Ultimately, it disappoints because it is very one-sided. I have just one question: Did Hutton buy his buckets of whitewash from the same source as Denning?' Labour MP, Austin Mitchell, 28 th January 2004.

Coatbridge, Chryston & Bellshill

Candidates

	Fiona Houston
	Conservative & Unionist
	Fiona Houston, who was originally selected to contest Livingston. Born in Dumfries, Scotland, Fiona Houston's career has successfully combined the demands of journalism and business, raising a family, and involvement in local issues, both in Scotland and in America. Currently Fiona works for the Sunday Times Virgin Atlantic Fast Track 100, the company sponsored by Richard Branson to track and promote Britain's top-performing private businesses. She also writes a column for Weekend Telegraph and is working on a book about food and the environment. Fiona returned to Scotland with her family three years ago from Washington DC, USA where she lived for 12 years. Having made the momentous decision to return to Scotland, Fiona feels very strongly about being involved in the political process to make Scotland a better place. While in Washington DC, she was immersed in the political culture, and learnt more than a thing or two about politics and campaigning. She reported on it as a journalist, and her husband worked as legislative director and Committee Counsel for the US Congress. She worked for the New York Times, the Scotsman, and also wrote for the Washington Post and was nominated for the US National Magazine Award by Men's Health magazine for a feature article on education. Most recently, as Chairman of Friends of Inverleith Park in Edinburgh, she established and ran a major grassroots campaign that overcame the odds to defeat Edinburgh City Council in its bid to develop one of Edinburgh's best-loved green spaces in Inverleith Park into an enormous concrete skateboard facility against the wishes of the local community. With this success under her belt, she now plans to channel the same energy and skill into ensuring that the public's voice is heard loudly and clearly in Edinburgh Central. Recent electoral experience. 2007 Scottish Parliament election, Edinburgh Central, 4,783 votes (16.27 %) 2007 Scottish Parliament election, Fifth on Tory Lothians list, 37,548 votes (13.08 %)
	Cllr Frances McGlinchey
	Scottish National Party
	Frances has lived all her life in the Coatbridge & Chryston Constituency. The daughter of a former miner and steelworker she became involved in politics at the tender age of 15. Educated at St Ambrose high in Coatbridge she went on to Queens college then Bell College gaining a Post graduate qualification in Personnel. Frances has worked on environmental matters, anti nuclear and peace issues since the eighties. Involved in the SNP trade union group and Unison Frances has in the past been involved in trade union forums at a national and international level. Married to John Wilson since 1982 they have a 16 year old daughter and now live in Glenboig. Frances graduated with a BA(hons) in 1996 and since has worked in the field of employment and disabilitiy. Currently Frances manages a service that supports people with mental health issues for a local mental health charity. Recently Frances has been involved in the Save the Monklands A&E campaign and recognises the need to ensure that the people of Coatbridge & Chryston have A&E available locally and only a SNP administiration at Holyrood can now save essential health services for the area. Recent electoral experience 2007 North Lanarkshire Council election, Strathkelvin, (elected) 2007 Scottish Parliament election, Coatbridge & Chryston, 7,350 votes (28.57 %) 2007 Scottish Parliament election, Eighth on Scottish National Party, 89,210 votes (31.36 %) 2005 Westminster parliament election, Stirling, 5,503 votes (12.60 %) 2003 North Lanarkshire Council election, Blairpark, 641 votes (41.44 %)
	Who?
	Labour
	Ministerial Posts: Recent electoral experience
	Who?
	Liberal Democrat
	Recent electoral experience

Westminster Election, 5 th May 2005

Electorate 67,385 Turnout: 56.90 %
	Rt Hon Tom Clarke MP
	Labour
	Votes	24,725
	%	64.48 %
	% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)	- 4.83 % / + 1.76 %
	Dr Duncan Ross
	Scottish National Party
	Votes	5,206
	%	13.58 %
	% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)	- 1.17 % / - 1.39 %
	Rod Ackland
	Liberal Democrat
	Votes	4,605
	%	12.01 %
	% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)	+ 6.44 % / + 4.45 %
	Lindsay Paterson
	Conservative & Unionist
	Votes	2,775
	%	7.24 %
	% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)	+ 2.25 % / + 0.36 %
	Joan Kinloch
	Scottish Socialist Party
	Votes	1,033
	%	2.69 %
	% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)	- 2.45 % / - 2.16 %
Notional Labour hold
Labour majority		19,519
% majority		50.90 %
% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)		- 3.65 % / - 0.07 %

Notional 2001 result

Logo	Party	Denver			Baxter
		Votes	%		Votes	%
	Labour	28,067	69.31 %		25,938	62.76 %
	Scottish National Party	5,975	14.75 %		5,835	14.97 %
	Liberal Democrat	2,257	5.57 %		2,980	7.56 %
	Scottish Socialist Party	2,083	5.14 %		1,913	4.85 %
	Conservative & Unionist	2,019	4.99 %		2,715	6.88 %
	Others	94	0.23 %		61	0.15 %
Notional Labour win	Notional Labour majority	22,092	54.55 %		20,103	50.97 %