Candidates and Constituency Assessments

'Do you have a ticket to get in?' 'I'm a member!' Exchange between a member of the Scottish Parliament's security staff and North of Scotland MSP, Alex Johnstone, September 2001.

West Aberdeenshire & Kincardine

Candidates

	Alex Johnstone MSP
	Conservative & Unionist
	Alex Johnstone was born on the 31st July 1961 in Stonehaven and educated at Mackie Academy in Stonehaven. In 1980 he became a self-employed partner in family dairy and arable farm, and became the principle partner in 1993. He is married and an elder of the Church of Scotland. At the Scottish Parliamentary elections he contested Gordon in 1999 and Angus in 2003 and 2007, being elected as a North of Scotland . At the 2005 Westminster election, while still an MSP, he contested West Aberdeenshire & Kincardine. In the Scottish parliament he was the Convener of the Rural Affairs Committee. He was a member of the Procedures Committee and a substitute member of the Communities Committee in the 2003 parliament. He is interested in information technology. Party positions 1999 - 2001 - Tory Spokesman on Rural Affairs 2001 - 2003 - Tory Business Manager 2003 - November 2005 - Tory Spokesman on the Environment & Rural Development November 2005 - April 2007 - Tory Spokesman on Energy & the Environment. Parliamentary positions 2003 - April 2004 - Member of the Parliamentary Bureau May 2007 - Member of the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body Recent electoral experience 2007 Scottish Parliamentary election, Angus, 7,443 votes (23.29 %) 2007 Scottish Parliamentary election, Second on Conservative North East Scotland list, 37,666 votes (14.70 %) (elected first out of seven MSPs) 2005 Westminster election, West Aberdeenshire & Kincardine, 11,814 votes (28.37 %) 2003 Scottish Parliamentary election, Angus, 6,564 votes (22.03 %) 2003 Scottish Parliamentary election, Second on Conservative North East Scotland list, 42,318 votes (17.37 %) (elected second out of seven MSPs) 1999 Scottish Parliamentary election, Gordon, 6,602 votes (19.64 %) 1999 Scottish Parliamentary election, Third on Conservative North East Scotland list, 52,149 votes (18.27 %) (elected sixth out of seven MSPs)
	Dennis Robertson
	Scottish National Party
	I was born in Aberdeen 1956 and at the age of 11, I went to the Royal Blind School in Edinburgh. I qualified in Social Work in the early 80's. I have worked both within the statutory and voluntary sectors which has given me the opportunity to work with people from all walks of life. I currently work for a leading North East of Scotland Charity as a Team Leader. I live in the Constituency with my wife Ann, twin teenage daughters Caroline and Fiona and our new addition to the family my sixth guide dog Mr Q. I am a long standing member of the SNP and in the past stood as a Local Government Candidate in Kirriemuir, North Tayside. I was the Parliamentary Candidate, for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine in the "historic" 2007 Scottish Parliamentary Elections. I am passionate about my Scottish identity and proud to live in a country that embraces many peoples and cultures from around the world and recognises Scotland as an inclusive society giving opportunities to all its citizens. Independence is not just inspirational but a fundamental right of any Nation aspiring to take its rightful place in the world and responsibility for its own future. With hard work and help and support from other like minded people, including my family and activists within the Constituency, I will become the first SNP Member of Parliament for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine. Until Scotland becomes an Independent Nation the People of Scotland deserve a strong voice in Westminster. Trust me with your vote in the next General Election and I will be your voice. Yours for Scotland and a better future - Dennis Robertson. Recent electoral experience 2007 Scottish Parliament election, Aberdeenshire West & Kincardine, 9,144 votes (26.26 %) 2007 Scottish Parliament election, Sixth on Scottish National Party North East Scotland list, 105,265 votes (41.07 %) 2003 Angus Council election, Kirriemuir West 590 votes (31.42 %)
	Sir Robert Smith Bt MP
	Liberal Democrat
	Born in 1958, Sir Robert Smith Bt., was educated at Merchant Taylors School in Northwood and he has a BSC from Aberdeen University. He is the cousin of the late Tory MP Alick-Buchanan-Smith and is married with three daughters and lives in Banchory. Before becoming an MP he managed the family estates. Sir Robert Smith was a Lib Dem councillor in Aberdeenshire from 1995 until 1997 and at the 1987 Westminster election he contested Aberdeen North, coming second with 17.8 %. Sir Robert Smith won Aberdeenshire West & Kincardine from the Tories in 1997. He was a Scottish Whip from 1999 until 2001 when he became Lib Dem Deputy Chief Whip. His interests include hill walking and sailing. Recent electoral experience As a Liberal Democrat candidate: 2005 Westminster Parliament election, West Aberdeenshire & Kincardine, 19,285 votes (46.30 %) (elected) 2001 Westminster Parliament election, Aberdeenshire West & Kincardine, 16,507 votes (43.54 %) (elected) 1997 Westminster Parliament election, Aberdeenshire West & Kincardine, 17,742 votes (41.0 8%) (elected) 1995 Aberdeenshire Council election, Upper Donside, 487 votes (32.66 %) (elected) As a Social Democratic Party candidate: 1987 Westminster election, Aberdeen North, 7,867 votes (17.81 %)
	Who?
	Labour
	Ministerial Posts: Recent electoral experience

Notional 2001 result

Logo	Party	Denver			Baxter
		Votes	%		Votes	%
	Liberal Democrat	16,840	43.97 %		16,507	43.54 %
	Conservative & Unionist	11,694	30.53 %		11,686	30.82 %
	Labour	4,698	12.27 %		4,669	12.31 %
	Scottish National Party	4,648	12.14 %		4,634	12.22 %
	Scottish Socialist Party	424	1.11 %		418	1.10 %
Notional Liberal Democrat win	Notional Liberal Democrat majority	5,146	13.44 %		4,821	12.72 %

Links

• West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine SNP
  
  
• Dennis Robertson - SNP