Inverness Nairn Badenoch and Strathspey
2005 Results:
Liberal Democrat: 17830 (40.3%)
Labour: 13682 (30.9%)
SNP: 5992 (13.5%)
Conservative: 4579 (10.3%)
Other: 2172 (4.9%)
Majority: 4148 (9.4%)
Boundary changes prior to 2005 election: Name of seat changed from Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber.
2001 Result
Conservative: 5653 (13.3%)
Labour: 15605 (36.8%)
Liberal Democrat: 9420 (22.2%)
SNP: 10889 (25.6%)
Other: 894 (2.1%)
Majority: 4716 (11.1%)
1997 Result
Conservative: 8355 (17.5%)
Labour: 16187 (33.9%)
Liberal Democrat: 8364 (17.5%)
SNP: 13848 (29%)
Referendum: 436 (0.9%)
Other: 578 (1.2%)
Majority: 2339 (4.9%)
No Boundary Changes:
Profile:
Outgoing MP: Danny Alexander(Liberal Democrat) Chief of Staff to Nick Clegg since 2007 (more information at They work for you)
Candidates: Jim Ferguson (Conservative) Mike Robb (Labour) Danny Alexander(Liberal Democrat) Chief of Staff to Nick Clegg since 2007 (more information at They work for you)John Finnie (SNP) Donnie MacLeod (Green) 
Ross Durance (UKIP)
2001 Census Demographics
Total 2001 Population: 87097
Male: 48.6%
Female: 51.4%
Under 18: 22.9%
Over 60: 21.3%
Born outside UK: 3.5%
White: 99%
Asian: 0.3%
Mixed: 0.2%
Other: 0.3%
Christian: 65.2%
Graduates 16-74: 20.8%
No Qualifications 16-74: 30.3%
Owner-Occupied: 68.3%
Social Housing: 18.6% (Council: 15.3%, Housing Ass.: 3.3%)
Privately Rented: 9.5%
Homes without central heating and/or private bathroom: 6.6%
Alexis
Most of us Votey types tend not to attend council meetings or forums, therefore our voting intentions are unlikely to be affected by these.
Were looking for whos done what for us and in some cases whos offering us what. Lib Dems form neither the government at Westminster nor Holyrood so Danny Alexander cant really promise us anything other than he will ask nicely that we are not forgotten about.
In my 13 years living in Inverness I am yet to meet anyone who represents me at Local, Devolved, National or European Level infact I am yet to meet any candidates for these. I have had my first flyer through the door which was for Jim Ferguson but I suppose until theres actually a date for the election its difficult to form a strategy on how to fight it.
David
I was merely pointing out that using the old Highland method of judging the individual rather than the party politics that Danny Alexander has proven himself capable irrespective of what party he represents.
I am one of those old fashioned types who in typical Highland tradition make my judgment less on the party and more on the Candidate.
I haven’t quite decided who to vote for and I was not at the Inverness Bypass forum. Jim Ferguson also had a letter in the Courier last week so his feelings on the subject are quite plain for all to see. I also have had two leaflets from Mr Ferguson but none from the others so far.
I have to say I am leaning more to Mr Ferguson not so much because of his policies or that of his party but because hes seems to say it like it is. No waffle. He hits hard and says what he does and also seems to have a real belief in what he says and goes after it. I quite admire that.
I can actually imagine him on the war path laying into everyone and everything in sight but he does seem to achieve a lot locally. I think Danny will have his work cut out on the hustings. Danny is a nice enough fellow. Doesn’t do much though and so is John Finnie for that matter. Mike Robb is a totally unknown entity and I know nothing about him. This fight might prove quite close but the polls of-course are still all over the place.
Do you think we are still heading for a May 6th Election ?
Almost certainly Brian…..Brown also used his address to confirm that the budget will be in two weeks’ time, on 24 March, leading to speculation that the prime minister will announce the date of the election on 6 April. It now looks a definite for May 6th.
I am also interested to see the Budget Document. I am under no illusion it will not be a Budget of Substance, but a Budget for an election!
Your comments on Jim Ferguson are very accurate. He is a man who likes to get things done.
Jim Ferguson’s campaign is just another example of fruitless Torie spending. Yesterday I received an 18th birthday card from Ferguson in an attempt to sway me to their side. Aye right! The Tories have little chance in Scotland and an even smaller chance in Inverness. So why are they ploughing money into a campaign that will never take off the ground? We know this constituency is going to be won by either Labour or the Lib Dems. And to be honest it’s not really heart-warming that I received a card from a party that is largely funded by Ashcroft