The Glasgow East constituency was born from boundary changes in 2005 which saw the number of Scottish seats drop from 72 to 59.
It takes in all of the former Glasgow Baillieston seat and about 42% of the old Glasgow Shettleston constituency.
At the last general election in 2005, voters in Glasgow East returned Labour MP David Marshall with a majority of more than 13,500.
The 24 July by-election was triggered by his resignation on health grounds.
Geographically, the seat covers most of Glasgow's east end.
It stretches from from Gallowgate in the city centre to the outskirts of Coatbridge in North Lanarkshire.
Along the way it takes in Parkhead, Shettleston, Easterhouse, Barlanark and Garthamlock.
According to the 2001 census, the constituency population is just above 89,300.
Traditionally, the main political issues have focussed on social deprivation, with Glasgow East recording some of the worst statistics in the UK.
Life expectancy is significantly lower than the UK average, with men in some areas of the constituency living 11 years less.
Figures for unemployment are also higher, with the rate for men over 25 about 10%, rising to 25% for women.
Urban regeneration
In 2002, a United Nations rating system taking account of life expectancy, unemployment, incomes and rates of illiteracy put the Shettleston area as the most deprived in Britain.
Nearby Baillieston, also in Glasgow East, was placed seventh.
This year, NHS statistics showed that the east end of Glasgow had Scotland's highest rate of alcohol-related hospital admissions.
An average of 860 people per 100,000 were admitted between 2004 and 2006 in Scotland.
But in the east end of Glasgow that rose to 1,505, compared to a regional low of 501 in East Renfrewshire.
Despite many depressing statistics which are associated with the constituency, it will be one of the main beneficiaries when Glasgow hosts the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
A national indoor sports arena and velodrome complex is planned opposite Celtic Park in the Parkhead area. This will be neighboured by an athletes' village.
The area is also being targeted for widespread improvements through the £1.6bn Clyde Gateway project.
This multi-agency initiative has targeted building 10,000 new housing units and 400,000 square metres of commercial property in the coming two decades.
It also aims to create 21,000 new jobs and increase the population in the east end of Glasgow by 20,000.
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