Angus
Scottish National Party hold

All six SNP Westminster MPs won their own constituencies in the Scottish Parliament elections in May 1999, most very easily, like Andrew Welsh of Angus. It is clear where their priorities lie with the party putting Scottish independence at the core of its campaign. All six are leaving the Commons rather than continuing with a "dual mandate" after the next general election; but in most cases, as in Angus - with its small coastal towns like Montrose and Arbroath and Carnoustie of recently revived Open Golf status - it is likely that nationalism is so entrenched that another party member will be sent to represent their interest down south.

With the retreat to the Scottish Parliament of Andrew Welsh, the SNP’s lacklustre-but-dogged MP of 20 years, dubbed as Baldrick to Alex Salmond’s Black Adder, his party has turned to local-born (in 1957) Michael Weir, a solicitor and former councillor, educated at the local Arbroath High School, and Aberdeen University. He is of the generation that came of age politically during the SNPís first upsurge, when the uncharismatic Andrew Welsh was one of the “Magnificent Seven” SNP MPs elected in February 1974. He is well-placed to retain a seat made safe for his party by anti-Tory tactical voting.

Angus Council

Area Percent GB Percent Index GB=100   Thriving Wealthy Achievers, Suburban Areas 12.71% 14.99% 84.77 Affluent Greys, Rural Communities 2.61% 2.13% 122.52 Prosperous Pensioners, Retirement Areas 1.90% 2.49% 76.33 Expanding Affluent Executives, Family Areas 7.10% 4.43% 160.48 Well-Off Workers, Family Areas 8.45% 7.27% 116.17 Rising Affluent Urbanites, Town & City Areas 0.71% 2.56% 27.53 Prosperous Professionals, Metropolitan Areas 0.15% 2.04% 7.37 Better-Off Executives, Inner City Areas 0.91% 3.94% 23.12 Settling Comfortable Middle Agers, Mature Home Owning Areas 12.33% 13.04% 94.57 Skilled Workers, Home Owning Areas 5.51% 12.70% 43.34 Aspiring New Home Owners, Mature Communities 5.03% 8.14% 61.78 White Collar Workers, Better-Off Multi Ethnic Areas 3.46% 4.02% 85.97 Striving Older People, Less Prosperous Areas 9.83% 3.19% 308.56 Council Estate Residents, Better-Off Homes 21.01% 11.31% 185.72 Council Estate Residents, High Unemployment 5.00% 3.06% 163.21 Council Estate Residents, Greatest Hardship 3.23% 2.52% 128.06 People in Multi-Ethnic, Low-Income Areas 0.00% 2.10% 0.00 Unclassified Unclassified 0.08% 0.06% 133.36

Area Percent GB Percent Index GB=100   £0-5K 8.88% 9.41% 94.35 £5-10K 16.38% 16.63% 98.47 £10-15K 16.75% 16.58% 101.05 £15-20K 13.97% 13.58% 102.83 £20-25K 10.80% 10.39% 103.89 £25-30K 8.11% 7.77% 104.31 £30-35K 6.03% 5.79% 104.15 £35-40K 4.48% 4.33% 103.48 £40-45K 3.34% 3.27% 102.40 £45-50K 2.51% 2.48% 101.00 £50-55K 1.89% 1.90% 99.35 £55-60K 1.44% 1.47% 97.52 £60-65K 1.10% 1.15% 95.56 £65-70K 0.85% 0.91% 93.52 £70-75K 0.66% 0.72% 91.43 £75-80K 0.51% 0.57% 89.33 £80-85K 0.40% 0.46% 87.23 £85-90K 0.32% 0.37% 85.15 £90-95K 0.25% 0.31% 83.10 £95-100K 0.20% 0.25% 81.10 £100K + 0.93% 1.34% 69.19