Edinburgh South West
2010 Results:
Conservative: 11026 (24.25%)
Labour: 19473 (42.83%)
Liberal Democrat: 8194 (18.02%)
SNP: 5530 (12.16%)
Green: 872 (1.92%)
Scottish Socialist: 319 (0.7%)
Others: 48 (0.11%)
Majority: 8447 (18.58%)
2005 Results:
Labour: 17476 (39.8%)
Conservative: 10234 (23.3%)
Liberal Democrat: 9252 (21.1%)
SNP: 4654 (10.6%)
Other: 2310 (5.3%)
Majority: 7242 (16.5%)
Boundary changes prior to 2005 election: Name of seat changed from Edinburgh Pentlands.
2001 Result
Conservative: 14055 (36.1%)
Labour: 15797 (40.6%)
Liberal Democrat: 4210 (10.8%)
SNP: 4210 (10.8%)
UKIP: 105 (0.3%)
Other: 555 (1.4%)
Majority: 1742 (4.5%)
1997 Result
Conservative: 14813 (32.4%)
Labour: 19675 (43%)
Liberal Democrat: 4575 (10%)
SNP: 5952 (13%)
Referendum: 422 (0.9%)
Other: 305 (0.7%)
Majority: 4862 (10.6%)
No Boundary Changes:
Profile:
Current MP: Alistair Darling(Labour) born 1953, London. Educated at Loretto School and the University of Aberdeen. Advocate. Lothian councillor 1982-1987. First elected as MP for Edinburgh Central in 1987. Shadow home affairs spokesman 1988-1992. Shadow treasury spokesman from 1992-1997. Following Labour`s 1997 election victory he became Chief Secretary to the Treasury. Secretary of State for Social Security from 1998-2001, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 2001-2002, Secretary of State for Transport 2001-2006, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (and Scotland) 2006-2007 and Chancellor of the Exchequer since 2007. A quiet, unassuming, safe pair of hands, following the departure of Tony Blair and John Prescott he is now – along with Gordon Brown and Jack Straw – one of only 3 MPs to have served in the cabinet continuously since 1997 (more information at They work for you)
Jason Rust (Conservative) Solicitor. Edinburgh councillor.
Alistair Darling(Labour) born 1953, London. Educated at Loretto School and the University of Aberdeen. Advocate. Lothian councillor 1982-1987. First elected as MP for Edinburgh Central in 1987. Shadow home affairs spokesman 1988-1992. Shadow treasury spokesman from 1992-1997. Following Labour`s 1997 election victory he became Chief Secretary to the Treasury. Secretary of State for Social Security from 1998-2001, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 2001-2002, Secretary of State for Transport 2001-2006, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (and Scotland) 2006-2007 and Chancellor of the Exchequer 2007-2010. A quiet, unassuming, safe pair of hands, he was – along with Gordon Brown and Jack Straw – one of only 3 MPs to have served in the cabinet throughout the whole of Labour`s 1997-2010 period in government (more information at They work for you)
Tim McKay (Liberal Democrat) Accountant and investment analyst. Edinburgh councillor since 2007.
Kaukab Stewart (SNP) Contested Glasgow Anniesland in the 1999 Scottish elections, Edinburgh North & Leith 2001.
Clare Cooney (Green)
Colin Fox (Scottish Socialist)
Caroline Bellamy (Communist League) Sewing machinist2001 Census Demographics
Total 2001 Population: 94207
Male: 49%
Female: 51%
Under 18: 20.9%
Over 60: 17.7%
Born outside UK: 7.8%
White: 95.9%
Black: 0.5%
Asian: 1.9%
Mixed: 0.5%
Other: 1.2%
Christian: 55.5%
Muslim: 1.6%
Graduates 16-74: 28.8%
No Qualifications 16-74: 23.6%
Owner-Occupied: 67.1%
Social Housing: 18.9% (Council: 11.7%, Housing Ass.: 7.1%)
Privately Rented: 11.7%
Homes without central heating and/or private bathroom: 14.1%



No shock result here.
Darling to hold on with a very comfortable majority.
I’d say the Tories have no chance of winning this seat and have every chance of coming third
LAB HOLD
but with a swing TO Darling, I didn’t expect. Again the Scottish urban middle-class confounds the Tories. Some of the wards here are Tory strongholds!
I wonder how many Scottish Conservative flops will now attempt to follow Rifkind and inflict themselves on the English Conservatives.
I assume Darling will be speaking as Shadow Chancellor on the 22nd of June, until a Shadow Chancellor is appointed in September?
I wonder whether it will be Darling or Balls?