Renfrewshire West LAB Hold

Scottish Parliament election

constituency

	Renfrewshire West	LAB Hold

	CANDIDATE	PARTY	VOTES	%	+/-%
	Trish Godman	LAB	9671	34.2	-4.5
	Bruce McFee	SNP	7179	25.4	-4.5
	Annabel Goldie	CON	6867	24.3	+2.2
	Alison King	LD	2902	10.3	+2.2
	Gerry McCartney	SSP	1683	5.9	+5.9
		MAJORITY	2492	8.8
		TURNOUT	28302	55.5

ELECTORATE	50963

Top-up region: West of Scotland

DESCRIPTION: Renfrewshire West

As well as Port Glasgow, this constituency comprises small towns and villages on the Firth of Clyde, west of Glasgow. These include Bishopton, Ranfurly, Lochwinnoch, Erskine and Kilmacolm. Much of the housing in the seat is owner-occupied. The military industry in Renfrewshire West and its neighbouring constituencies provides a major source of employment for people who live here. The Bishopton munitions manufacturing complex, as well as new offices for the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency, are here while Faslane, home to Trident, and the Govan Shipyards are within commuting distance.

This seat was created in 1983 and held for one term by Anna McCurley for the Conservatives. Labour’s Tommy Graham won it in 1987, but was suspended in 1998 for bringing the party into disrepute. He did not stand in 2001 but the seat stayed Labour with a comfortable majority. Labour's Trish Godman won the Holyrood seat in 1999 and was convener of the parliament's local government committee. Employment will be an issue in an area that suffers from the ups and downs of the electronics industry.

PREVIOUS RESULTS

	1999 SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT ELECTION		LAB WIN
	PARTY	VOTES	%
	LAB	12708	37.3
	SNP	9815	28.8
	CON	7243	21.3
	LD	2659	7.8
	IND	1136	3.3
	SWP	476	1.4

	2001 GENERAL ELECTION		LAB WIN
	PARTY	VOTES	%
	LAB	15720	46.9
	SNP	7145	21.3
	CON	5522	16.5
	LD	4185	12.5
	SSP	925	2.8