Livingston LAB Hold

Scottish Parliament election

constituency

	Livingston	LAB Hold

	CANDIDATE	PARTY	VOTES	%	+/-%
	Bristow Muldoon	LAB	13327	43.6	-3.7
	Peter Johnston	SNP	9657	31.6	-5.1
	Lindsay Paterson	CON	2848	9.3	+1.1
	Paul McGreal	LD	2714	8.9	+1.1
	Robert Richard	SSP	1640	5.4	+5.4
	Stephen Milburn	SPA	371	1.2	+1.2
		MAJORITY	3670	12.0
		TURNOUT	30557	46.7

ELECTORATE	65421

Top-up region: Lothian

DESCRIPTION: Livingston

Livingston, the only new town in Lothian, is at the heart of what has become known as Silicon Glen. It has grown on the back of the electronics industry, with giants such as NEC and Mitsubishi establishing plants here. However, the notoriously cyclical nature of the industry has made many local jobs vulnerable. In 2001, NEC announced the closure of its factory with the loss of more than 1,200 jobs.

Lothian regional councillor Bristow Muldoon won the seat for Labour in the Scottish Parliament with a much reduced majority compared to 1997, of 3,904 votes. This was largely due to Labour voters failing to turn out rather than a stronger SNP, who only polled an extra 556 votes. Mr Muldoon became convener of the parliament’s transport committee. The SNP will be looking to fight as the main challengers in this constituency.

PREVIOUS RESULTS

	1999 SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT ELECTION		LAB WIN
	PARTY	VOTES	%
	LAB	17313	47.3
	SNP	13409	36.7
	CON	3014	8.2
	LD	2834	7.7

	2001 GENERAL ELECTION		LAB WIN
	PARTY	VOTES	%
	LAB	19108	53
	SNP	8492	23.6
	LD	3969	11
	CON	2995	8.3
	SSP	1110	3.1
	UKIP	359	1