BBC NEWS | VOTE 2003

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Scottish Parliament election

constituency



	Strathkelvin & Bearsden	IND Gain


CANDIDATE	PARTY	VOTES	%	+/-%
Jean Turner	IND	10988	31.1	+31.1
Brian Fitzpatrick	LAB	10550	29.9	-21.4
Jo Swinson	LD	4950	14.0	+4.1
Fiona McLeod	SNP	4846	13.7	-8.6
Rory O'Brien	CON	4002	11.3	-5.2

	MAJORITY	430	1.2
	TURNOUT	35328	57.1


ELECTORATE	61905

DESCRIPTION: Strathkelvin & Bearsden

Bearsden is an affluent middle class commuter town serving Glasgow, with high levels of owner-occupation (76.8%) and professionals and managers are numerous (44.6%) in this seat. But its political heart is in the Labour-voting towns of Bishopbriggs and Kirkintilloch. These were once centres for coal mining and metal founding, but most of those heavy industries have long been gone since the 1930s. The main industries now are book-publishing, construction, transport and agriculture with a growing number of firms in the light industrial sector.

Sam Galbraith won the Holyrood seat in 1999 but stood down for health reasons in 2001. The by-election, held on the same day as the Westminster elections, saw Brian Fitzpatrick, former chief of staff to Donald Dewar, hold the seat, but he faced a strong challenge from a retired local GP, Jean Turner, standing as an independent against the downgrading of services at the neighbouring Stobhill Hospital.

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