Candidates and Constituency Assessments

'A Scottish MP has caused a row at Westminster after comparing First Minister Alex Salmond to Adolf Hitler. Ann Moffat, Labour MP for East Lothian, made the comment during a debate on the Scottish election fiasco.' BBC News, 23 rd May 2007.

East Lothian

Candidates

	Anne Moffat (Picking) MP
	Labour
	Known variously as 'Little Ms Moffat', 'Mad Moffat', and 'Saint Anne de Moffat', East Lothian's controvertial MP Anne Moffat (elected as Anne Picking in 2001) is a former president of the trades union Unison. She was born in Dunfermline in 1958 and educated at the town's Woodmill High School. She worked as a psychiatric and general nurse in Kent and was a Labour councillor on Ashford Burgh Council from 1990 until 2000. She was parachuted in by the public service union Unison as candidate for East Lothian in 2001. This was a major surprise to local Labour activists and electors as the absentée Ms Moffat was, and remains, largely unknown in the constituency with the exception of the news of her latest scandals. These rival the convoluted plots involving any soap opera villain and prove that fact is indeed stranger than fiction. In her first parliamentary term Ms Moffat (or as she was then known, Anne Picking, MP for East Lothian in absentia) had the poorest voting record of any Scottish MP and was described as 'a shadowy and highly elusive character who reputedly succeeded John Home Robertson as MP for East Lothian in 2001'. Her election agent made no attempt to justify her prolonged disappearances, merely writing in the East Lothian Courier that the then Mrs Picking was not available for comment. To this day, it is still a mystery how Ms Moffat spent her time when she was being paid to represent the people of East Lothian. In 2003, it was alleged (and Ms Moffat subsequently admitted) that she allowed her brother to live in her taxpayer-funded London flat while she lived elsewhere. It was also alleged that Ms Moffat had employed her son for 'questionable' work, and that she 'paid staff £2000 bonuses then took a £500 kickback from them'. In 2005, Ms Moffat caused a serious split in the local party when she sacked three staff, only settling one dispute a year later on the eve of a 'potentially embarrassing' employment tribuneral. In March 2006 the chairman and a number of activists of East Lothian Constituency Labour Party resigned over the scandal surrounding Ms Moffat's £148,818 expense claims, including £39,744 for travel. This was more than any other Member of Parliament in the whole of the United Kingdom, and twice that of neighbouring Labour MP for Midlothian, David Hamilton, while Orkney & Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael claimed just £27,366. On the 22 nd March 2005, East Lothian Green candidate Michael Collie told the Evening News: 'Like many in East Lothian, I was incredulous at how much Mrs Picking had claimed. And she has steadfastly refused to proffer any meaningful explanation, or to put the details in the public domain. Until we see the facts, there must remain the suspicion that, at the very least, she has been profligate with the public purse. 'With an election on the horizon it is in no-one's interest that this matter should be allowed to fester and to become an election issue - as surely it will if it is not disposed of in the interim. For that reason I made an application under the Freedom of Information Act for a breakdown of Mrs Picking's expenses. 'They declined to provide the information, claiming that it was 'personal information' and as such fell under the protection of the Data Protection Act.' However, Michael Collie's persistence resulted in an investigation by Parliamentary ComMsioner for Standards, Sir Philip Mawer. Ms Moffat is a Past Master at claiming credit for the hard work of others. In the summer of 2006, Ms Moffat refused to back local activists who asked for her support in ending ship-to-ship oil transfers in the Firth of Forth, however, in October 2007, with an election looming, Ms Moffat suddenly became converted to the cause. When Ms Moffat attempted to take credit for an 18 month campaign which she had not been part of, the Provost of East Lothian Council, Cllr Sheena Richardson stated: 'She has tried to make this into a personal crusade when it clearly is not.' Scottish Green Party spokesman George Baxter said: 'It is a bit of a shame that Anne Moffat has waited until now to get involved. Any involvement, particularly at parliamentary level, is of course welcome. I just hope she stays on board for the forseeable future.' SNP candidate, Andrew Sharp, added: 'It will be interesting to see how long her interest lasts, given that there won't now be a election in November.' In September 2006, Richard Thomas, the Information ComMsioner, ruled that Ms Moffat's travel expenses should be made public. However, these were not made available until November 2007, after the MP lost a two year battle to attempt to cover up the highest travel expenses claim for any MP in the UK between 2003 and 2004. Ms Moffat claimed £9,792 in rail fares over the 12-month period, including £7,211 for journeys from London to 'Glasgow or Edinburgh', an average of £277 for each journey. According to the Sunday Herald, a standard return in 2007 costs just £91. Ms Moffat also claimed £1,817 in rail fares for 42 trips between Heathrow and Central London, with each ticket averaging £43 whereas in 2007, according to the Sunday Herald, a standard 'open return' between the airport and King's Cross station costs just £13.60 and a 'first open return' just £18.00. A constituent remarked: 'You might think that, I couldn't possibly comment!' In addition to claiming £22,000 in rail and air travel, Ms Moffat claimed £12,289 in mileage costs for 24,129 miles of travel - the equivalent of 66 miles every single day of the year, or three journeys each day of the year from her home in Cockenzie to Edinburgh airport. On the 28 th May 2009, a former head of the Commons Fees Office commented: "We also thought that a number of members were claiming for constituency mileage that was virtually impossible." Ms Moffat has also been an enthusiastic cheer leader for the bloody and illegal Iraq war and was a personal favourite of ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair. On the 2 nd May 2007, at Prime Minister's Question Time, Ms Moffat asked Blair: 'Does my right hon. Friend share my growing concern about the seeming acceptability of taking cannabis and the fact that it can lead to mental health problems? Does he know how to grow one's own dope - plant a Scottish nationalist?' Blair replied 'My hon. (sic) Friend makes her point very well.' On the 23 rd May 2007, Ms Moffat, who looked like she had enjoyed a liquid lunch, compared First Minister the Rt Hon Alex Salmond to Nazi war criminal Adolf Hitler stating 'Proportional representation gave Germany Adolf Hitler and in Scotland to a lesser degree we've had the member for Banff and Buchan.' Many shocked MPs were heard to declare that her remarks were 'outrageous'. Ms Moffat, however insisted that no apology was necessary. A few days later, in a bizarre and extremely suspicious incident, Ms Moffat claimed she was out jogging on the John Muir Way between the harbours at Cockenzie - apparantly wearing a gold chain, a watch, a diamond ring and a pair of diamond earrings. The MP claimed 'I was doing a bit of running and walking and I heard a group of youths in front of me. The next thing I knew, they were all jostling about. I don't know if I was pushed or tripped, but I went down and I hit my head on a boulder or a stone and I was knocked out. These people are just scum - nasty, horrible people getting fired up with drink and drugs.' The MP claimed that she was mugged by between four to six youths (one of whom she claimed was wearing a Celtic top) who, she asserted, not only knocked her unconscious and gave her three broken ribs, but also, she said, stole all her jewelry and her watch. However, by great and good luck, the MP's mobile phone, with all her confidential information, contacts and texts was not stolen. Ms Moffat appeared to drop dark hints that rivals in the ELCLP might have been responsible for the alleged attack, claiming: 'I suppose those that have been nasty towards me politically could have said 'duff her up' or something like that.' Only nasty cynics could have suggested, as of course they all did, that Little Ms Moffat's injuries were possibly the result of a fall, rather than a push. In May 2008 police stated 'Despite extensive media coverage, the response from the public has been minimal.' They have made no arrests, the investigation is now apparantly closed. Scurulous fiends have even alleged that the police were not convinced by the claims of East Lothian's hard working and scrupulously honest Saint Anne de Moffat that she was 'attacked' by 'scum'. Ms Moffat has made several other complaints to the police, claiming that she has received death threats in the post, that her flat has been daubed with offensive graffiti, and that a case of whisky was stolen from her constituency office in Tranent. In July 2007, an incandescent Ms Moffat stormed out of a meeting of East Lothian Constituency Labour Party after members had voted against her reselection as Labour candidate. Ms Moffat was backed by only two of the six local branches, Musselburgh and North Berwick with three others wanting a contest involving other candidates and Prestonpans branch evenly split. She was only saved by the block vote of the affiliates, in particular the trades unions. On the 13 th September 2007, Scottish Labour Party general secretary Lesley Quinn launched an enquiry in Prestonpans into the selection process. The East Lothian Courier reported that: Constituency secretary, former East Lothian councillor Robert McNeill, said: 'We very much support holding this inquiry. A number of concerns and issues have arisen since the result of the re-selection ballot was declared on July 26 and we welcome that these will be looked at. It is important we have a report as soon as possible so the Constituency Party can move on to attack the incompetent, muddled and damaging policies of the Lib-Dem/SNP coalition now running East Lothian Council.' Another local party source, who did not wish to be identified, added: 'A lot of people are deeply unhappy with the way Anne Moffat was re-selected. It is fair to say that she has not been the most popular of choices.' Ms Moffat claimed 'It is not an inquiry - it is a report. That is all. It happens whenever some concerns are raised. I fully expect to be endorsed by the NEC and hope that the whole of the East Lothian Labour Party will then be able concentrate on the job in hand, which is to represent the needs of the people of East Lothian. I have no problem as far as my re-selection is concerned. It was transparent and did not break any party rules.' In October 2007, it was announced that Scottish Labour general secretary Lesley Quinn had found anomolies with the selection process and that Ms Moffat had failed to respond to her own constituency officials. Therefore Ms Moffat's reselection as the Labour candidate for East Lothian would be the subject of an internal party investigation. Douglas Fraser noted in the Herald that 'This is the first time a sitting MP has faced this threat since Tommy Graham and Ron Brown were ousted from their Renfrewshire and Edinburgh seats, after protracted disputes during the 1990s.' However, on the 23 rd January 2008, National Executive in London backed Ms Moffat, one of their members, and rejected requests by local party officials for an enquiry. The Scotish Labour Party's investigations were merely 'noted' by London who overruled the verdict by Scottish Labour general secretary Lesley Quinn that there had been anomolies in the selection process. London refused to re-open the selection, despite complaints from local members, the majority of whom did not support Ms Moffat. The East Lothian Labour activists were then accused by Ms Moffat's Union cronies of 'acting unconstitutionally by defying the national party.' In April 2008, Ms Moffat moved out of the constituency offices which she shared with MSP Iain Gray at East Lothian Labour Party's Tranent headquarters, and relocated to Cockenzie Business Centre. She claimed she had moved from the building because: 'I am uncertain about the future of the building in Tranent. I think the Labour Party want to sell it.' However local MSP Iain Gray stated 'I have no plans to move my constituency office from its current location.' In June 2008, the Executive Committee of East Lothian Constituency Labour Party passed a motion of no confidence in Ms Moffat. The motion stated 'This Party is concerned at Anne Moffat's behaviour and attitude towards the CLP and the members of the Party since the trigger ballot result was announced. She has made unfounded allegations of being bullied and harassed by Party members and has made damaging statements to the media. We believe our MP's conduct and statements have brought the Party into disrepute.' It also called upon Ms Moffat to face a vote of no confidence from local party members. Ms Moffat, a member of Labour's UK National Executive Committee, complained to Colin Smyth, General Secretary of the UK Labour Party, who intervened on her behalf, declaring the local party's democratic motion to be 'unconstitutional'. Ms Moffat was a member of the cross-party Commons Select Committee on Business and Enterprise which has been overseeing the controversial post office closure programme. In August 2008, Ms Moffat was severely criticised by constituents in Aberlady, Dirleton, Drem, Elphinstone, Garvald, Gifford and Ormiston, who believed their local post offices might be closed. At the 2001 census the total population of Gifford was 688. On the 11th August 2008, in an age notorious for apathy and dismal attendance at public meetings, Ms Moffat faced the wrath of almost 100 Gifford residents in a heated public meeting when she refused to fight for her constituents and backed the UK Labour government's view stating 'The bottom line is that the post office network the way it currently stands is just not viable. It has to be cost-effective and able to turn a profit.' The East Lothian Courier reported. 'Despite repeated requests, Ms Moffat refused to reveal any information relating to the financial position of the village post office. Chairing the meeting, community councillor David Betts said: 'If the Post Office is not being forced to disclose to us what the financial criteria is, how can we make a case against any closure?' A clearly exasperated Ms Moffat eventually responded: 'How many more times can I say that I'm not in a position to tell you the business position of any individual post office?' The MP was also met with mocking laughter when she told those in attendance that she would 'get behind' a community-led campaign, but asked residents not to 'tie her hands' when asked for an answer on whether she felt Gifford Post Office should remain open. On the 25 th September 2008, in defiance of the diktat from London, ELCLP's no confidence motion in Ms Moffat was debated at the governing General Committee. This voted to endorse their condemnation of the MP who, they believed, had brought East Lothian and the Labour party into disrepute. Ms Moffat once again stormed out in the huff, and was furious that local MSP Iain Gray did not walk out in support of her. On the 14 th October 2008, Ms Moffat's refusal to oppose post office closures in East Lothian paid off when she was appointed as Parliamentary Private Secretary to Health Minister Alan Johnston MP. The East Lothian Courier commented: 'Mr Johnston and Ms Moffat share many similar views. Both voted strongly in favour of the Iraq war and Labour's anti-terror laws, as well as voting strongly against an investigation into the Iraq war.' On the 19 th November 2008, the Labour Party NEC in London suspended the East Lothian Constituency Labour Party for persisting in their democratic attempts to hold an open selection contest. It was later said that the NEC had been misled by Ms Moffat, who had claimed that she was innocent of any wrong doing and that she was being victimised by 'nasty', 'rough' male 'bullies' who could not stand a 'strong woman'. On the 23 rd November 2008, Ms Moffat's assertions were challenged by a female member of ELCLP, who wrote in the Scotsman: 'I've been incensed by Anne Moffat's behaviour since she became an MP - behaviour that would not be acceptable from a woman or a man. She's been challenged privately and done nothing. The local Party thought they could sort things out quietly by just not renominating her but she was saved by trades unions who know nothing about East Lothian. Even since then, the Labour Party has never leaked what the real concerns about her are *beyond the expenses issue* and has kept quiet. 'Ms Ms Moffat is a bully, rude to constituents, and bad at her job. She thinks that if she flings enough dirt at the Party, people won't look too closely at her. Swapping her black leathers for pink, playing the victim and blaming a group of people (many of whom are retired long time party stalwarts, councillors and officials) for bullying her won't wash. Her failure to say they weren't responsible for her mugging http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7419398.stm was desperate. Even the local police have said in public (but not officially) that they're not actively seeking anyone for the attack. 'This charade has gone on long enough. Feminism is let down by poor women who cry 'bullying' when their shortcomings are exposed.' Few East Lothian residents will be surprised that controvertial Dunbar Cllr Norman Hampshire and Musselburgh Cllr John McNeill are devoted worshippers of Ms Moffat, however, her relationship with other current and past East Lothian Labour Councillors has been somewhat less cordial. The MP has claimed that her troubles have arisen because Cllrs who were defeated in May 2007 want her seat in parliament. Ms Moffat's latest fantasy scenario ignores the fact that the scandals concerning her behaviour date back to her election in 2001, and not simply to May 2007. Ms Moffat had been defended in public by former Scottish Executive Minister Iain Gray MSP, who was defeated by the then Tory leader David McLetchie in Edinburgh Pentlands in 2003. Gray subsequently contested the East Lothian Scottish Parliamentary seat in 2007 and scraped in with 35.5 % of the vote and a slashed majority of just 2,448 over the Scottish National Party's Andrew Sharp, in what had been Labour's 13th safest seat in 2003, with the SNP in fourth place. However, on the 24 th November 2008, Ms Moffat even lashed out at Iain Gray, accusing the new leader of the Labour group in the Scottish Parliament of associating with 'bullies', 'cowards' and 'nasty people', and claiming he 'made friends with some of the people that are not particularly friendly towards me.' On the 26 th of November 2008, a senior Labour insider told the Evening News: 'With what has happened nationally there are no safe Labour seats. We have lost votes over the last few elections and her behaviour means she has lost a lot of support. A lot of party members are not willing to campaign for her and she has done nothing to build bridges.' On the 27 th of November 2008, SNP candidate Andrew Sharp commented. 'The real losers in this whole debacle are the people of East Lothian, who have had to watch whilst their MP fights people in her own party for her political life, at the same time as their MSP sits on his hands and doesn't dare say anything. Iain Gray evidently hopes to be First Minister at some point in the future. If he is unable or unwilling to sort out his own constituency party, you've really got to ask whether he'd be capable of running a nation.' On the 29 th of November 2008, a senior Labour figure in East Lothian told the Sunday Herald: 'If the party decides to carry out expulsions then there will be an independent candidate, I can assure you of that. It would be huge. The party would just fall. The biggest casualty in all this would be Iain Gray. At the next Scottish parliament election Iain could lose the seat because his base would be gone. He wouldn't have the backing of the main people within the constituency, because we would be out of the party. His credibility would also fall, because people would look at what was happening in his own party and start asking questions. It's very sad. We're proud to have someone like Iain here. He's a really good MSP.' In December 2008, Ms Moffat used taxpayers' money to produce and deliver a glossy 8-page colour 'Annual Report' to constituents. The report proudly proclaimed what a hard working MP Ms Moffat is, and as usual, she claimed credit for the hard work of others. One previous member of Tranent Labour club commented 'She must be absolutely desperate! This is the first time I have heard from her since she was elected in 2001!' On the 14 th of December, Tom Gordon and Paul Hutcheon reported in the Sunday Herald: 'Anne Moffat, the beleagured Labour MP for East Lothian has been accused of trying to save her career by using public money. On the eve of a party investigation into a bitter civil war within her constituency, Ms Moffat drew upon a £10,000-a-year Westminster allowance to send thousands of leaflets to voters listing her political achievements.' They added: 'Labour activists said the leaftlet had 'come out of the blue' and appeared to have been thrown together to show Ms Moffat in the best light during her dispute with the local party.' On the 6 th and 7 th December 2008, an inquiry in Tranent interviewed two dozen witnesses including Ms Moffat and the five ELCLP office bearers. The members were Jack Dromey, Labour's National Treasurer, Claudia Beamish, vice-chairwoman of the Scottish Executive Committee, and Ellie Reeves, from Labour's National Executive Committee. Colin Smyth, the Scottish general secretary, was also in attendance. Dromey is the partner of Labour deputy leader, Harriet Harman, a close friend of Ms Moffat's. Harman and Dromey are no strangers to sleaze scandals, with Harman having been under intense pressure to resign in 2007 after accepting a donation of £5,000 from Janet Kidd, an intermediary used by David Abrahams. However, unlike Wendy Alexander, Harriet Harman refused to resign for accepting illegal donations. On the 30 th November 2007, James Kirkup wrote in the Telegraph: 'Ms Harman's staff have repeatedly refused to to deny that they actively sought the donation from Ms Kidd, raising questions about what if anything they knew about her relationship with Mr Abrahams.' Despite being Labour's Treasurer and Harman's partner, Dromey 'denied any knowledge of Mr Abrahams' funding practices, suggesting there had been 'complete concealment' of the matter by Pete Watt, who resigned (in November 2007) as Labour's general secretary.' One ex-East Lothian Labour member commented wryly: 'Set a thief to catch a thief!' Ms Moffat wants the members who refuse to back her to be expelled from the party. However, this could result in Scotland's largest Constituency Labour Party losing more than half its members. These facing expulsion have made it clear that they would select an Independent Labour candidate to stand against the controvertial MP. On the 7 th December 2008 a local Labour party member told the Sunday Herald: 'What will be raised is the capability of this particular person to represent the Labour Party in East Lothian. That will be loud and clear. It's got to the stage where we have an MP who's a lame duck.' Another added: 'She has to put up or shut up. If she says she has been bullied, she has to name individuals.' On the 21 st of December 2008, Labour's National Executive in London returned control to East Lothian Constituency Labour Party, but failed to back either local members of the controvertial MP. On the 24 th December, the East Lothian Courier reported: 'The MP's controversial re-selection as Westminster candidate last year had sparked bitter in-fighting among the 500 constituency members. However, Sunday's 'resolution' has seen the constituency partyÕs suspension lifted with immediate effect. No details were given of the peace deal. However, Ms Moffat's supporters believe her position as Westminster candidate has been strengthened, though some local members have told the Courier the whole suspension debacle has only served to widen the already huge split between Ms Moffat and several key local party figures. Her opponents, however, should take some comfort that, apparently, no senior individuals within the local party have been disciplined for their 'dissent'... a punishment which Ms Moffat was understood to favour.' Ministerial Posts: 14 th October 2008 - Parliamentary Private Secretary to Secretary of State for Health, the Rt Hon Alan Johnston MP. Recent electoral experience 2005 Westminster election, East Lothian, 18,983 votes (47.47 %) (elected) 2001 Westminster election, East Lothian, 17,407 votes (47.21 %) (elected) Ashford Borough Cllr (Kent, England) 1990 - 2000
	Liberal Democrat
	The Lib Dems had selected Amy Roger, the Scottish director of the Electoral Reform Society. She came out top in a ballot for Lib Dem candidate with a clear majority over rival Stuart Ritchie. However, she stepped down in April 2009, citing personal reasons. The deputy leader of East Lothian Council and convenor of the local party, Clllr Stuart Currie was then selected in June 2009, but refused to accept the candidacy. The Lib Dems vote had been steadily increasing in East Lothian in past years and they confidently expected to come a close second at the Scottish Parliamentary election in May 2007. However, Lib Dem heavyweight Judy Hayman, National Convenor of the Scottish Lib Dems, limped in a poor third, just 17 votes ahead of the Tories. Meanwhile, the SNP obtained their best ever result in the constituency, coming within 3.55 % of beating Labour with the fourth biggest swing in the whole of Scotland. Recent electoral experience
	Andrew Sharp
	Scottish National Party
	Born in 1955, Andrew Sharp was educated at Glasgow High School and Perth Academy, and has a degree in History from Edinburgh University. Married with 2 daughters, he has been an IT professional for 20 years, and now holds a senior position with one of Scotland's most innovative software companies. His interests include computers, UK and US politics, football, rugby, hillwalking and painting. Upon his selection as candidate on the 18 th September 2007 Mr Sharp said: I am overjoyed at being selected to stand for the SNP in East Lothian again. I intend that we build on our great result in the Scottish Elections in May, when we nearly doubled our vote to nearly 10,000, came from fourth place to a very strong second, and established the SNP as the only party in the county which can take on and beat Labour. Labour's majority in 2003 was over 8000; after May, it is less than 2500, and from being a safe stronghold, East Lothian is now a marginal seat. As in May, I will fight a fair and positive campaign, based on the strong record of our Government in Holyrood, and on our outstanding performance in East Lothian Council. Make no mistake, the SNP can never again be accused of being untested in government, and compares very well indeed with the previous Labour and Liberal Democratic administration. We are delivering strong, innovative and massively competent government in Scotland, and are changing the Scottish political landscape through our concentration on positive actions, social justice, and full and frank engagement with the public. I will, during my campaign, hold Labour's record to account; the Iraqi war, poverty in Scotland, nuclear weapons; all will be examined, and our alternatives will be made clear and unambiguous. For my part, I will not descend into personal abuse of my opponents. I will not describe them as 'dopes' or compare them to dictators. Our policies and our record in government will do the talking for the SNP, and will help East Lothian return an SNP Member of Parliament to Westminster at the next General Election.' Mr Sharp added; 'I am committing my political future to East Lothian. The campaign for the next UK General Election starts now.' Recent electoral experience 2007 Scottish Parliament election, East Lothian, 9,771 votes (28.35 %) 2007 Scottish Parliament election, seventh on SNP South of Scotland list, 77,053 votes (27.88 %)
	Michael Veitch
	Conservative & Unionist
	Michael Veitch, 28, is a political researcher specialising in business, transport and rural affairs, having previously worked as a sales executive with Cadbury. Michael previously stood for the Scottish Conservatives in Linlithgow & East Falkirk at the 2005 General Election, where he secured an increase in the vote of almost 3%. In 2007 he stood in his home ward for the elections to East Lothian Council, polling over 1,000 first preference votes and Msing out on being elected by just 56 votes. As a resident of East Lothian, Michael is passionate about the constituency, and is determined to fight a campaign focussing on the issues that really matter to local people. Michael has a keen interest in nature and the environment, and enjoys walking in the East Lothian countryside. He is also an active member of a local church, and enjoys watching golf and football. Michael lives in East Lothian with his wife Laura. Recent electoral experience. 2007 East Lothian Council Election, Preston/Seton/Gosford, 1,040 First preference votes, (14.38 %) 2005 Westminster election, Linlithgow & East Falkirk, 5,486 votes (11.83 %)

Westminster Election, 5 th May 2005

Electorate 70,989 Turnout: 64.48 %
	Anne Picking MP
	Labour
	Votes	18,983
	%	41.47 %
	% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)	- 7.42 % / - 7.52 %
	Christopher Butler
	Liberal Democrat
	Votes	11,363
	%	24.82 %
	% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)	+ 7.66 % / + 7.61 %
	William Stevenson
	Conservative & Unionist
	Votes	7,315
	%	15.98 %
	% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)	- 0.06 % / + 0.23 %
	Paul McLennan
	Scottish National Party
	Votes	5,995
	%	13.10 %
	% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)	- 1.77 % / - 2.27 %
	Michael Collie
	Scottish Green Party
	Votes	1,132
	%	2.47 %
	% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)	(+ 2.47 %) / - (+ 2.47 %)
	Gary Galbraith
	Scottish Socialist Party
	Votes	504
	%	1.10 %
	% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)	- 1.09 % / - 0.76 %
	Eric Robb
	United Kingdom Independence Party
	Votes	306
	%	0.67 %
	% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)	(+ 0.67 %) / (+ 0.67 %)
	William Thompson
	Operation Christian Vote
	Votes	178
	%	0.39 %
	% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)	(+ 0.39 %) / (+ 0.39 %)
Notional Labour hold
Labour majority		7,620
% majority		16.65 %
% change since 2001 (Denver/Baxter figures)		- 15.08 % / - 15.12 %

Notional 2001 result

Logo	Party	Denver			Baxter
		Votes	%		Votes	%
	Labour	21,590	48.89 %		22,190	48.99 %
	Liberal Democrat	7,579	17.16 %		7,796	17.21 %
	Conservative & Unionist	7,083	16.04 %		7,137	15.75 %
	Scottish National Party	6,567	14.87 %		6,961	15.37 %
	Scottish Socialist Party	967	2.19 %		842	1.86 %
	Others	376	0.85 %		376	0.83 %
Notional Labour win	Notional Labour majority	14,011	31.73 %		14,394	31.77 %