Tayside North
Scottish National Party hold

The SNP have six seats at present, all originally won from the Tories. Three seem safe, three are possibly vulnerable to a Conservative revival: Galloway, Perth, and this one, North Tayside, which was gained only in 1997. What is more, John Swinney, the victor then, also subsequently selected as leader of the SNP, is not standing for Westminster again, concentrating as is logical for a Nationalist on the Edinburgh (or true) Parliament. Yet signs of that Tory revival are few and far between, and the new Nationalist candidate Peter Wishart must have at least an even chance to hold it against Conservative Murdo Fraser in the next general election.

With the retreat of the less than charismatic SNP leader, John Swinney, to the Scottish Parliament, the Nationalists are running Peter Wishart as their new candidate here. Somewhat unconventional as SNP candidates go in not being a regulation Scots lawyer or - as likely - a Scots teacher (although trained as one), he is a self-employed musician with the group 'Runrig', and Director of 'Scotland Against Drugs' and 'Fast Forward Positive Lifestyles.' Born 1962 and educated at Queen Anne High School, Dunfermline, and Moray House College of Education, he only joined the SNP in 1997 and is here inheriting an SNP parliamentary seat on his first outing. He describes his family background and school politics as "Socialist".

Area Percent GB Percent Index GB=100   Thriving Wealthy Achievers, Suburban Areas 10.29% 14.99% 68.61 Affluent Greys, Rural Communities 13.66% 2.13% 642.37 Prosperous Pensioners, Retirement Areas 2.17% 2.49% 87.47 Expanding Affluent Executives, Family Areas 2.31% 4.43% 52.17 Well-Off Workers, Family Areas 4.80% 7.27% 65.94 Rising Affluent Urbanites, Town & City Areas 0.24% 2.56% 9.35 Prosperous Professionals, Metropolitan Areas 0.00% 2.04% 0.00 Better-Off Executives, Inner City Areas 0.99% 3.94% 25.04 Settling Comfortable Middle Agers, Mature Home Owning Areas 15.34% 13.04% 117.62 Skilled Workers, Home Owning Areas 4.94% 12.70% 38.89 Aspiring New Home Owners, Mature Communities 9.26% 8.14% 113.75 White Collar Workers, Better-Off Multi Ethnic Areas 2.61% 4.02% 65.02 Striving Older People, Less Prosperous Areas 7.83% 3.19% 245.82 Council Estate Residents, Better-Off Homes 17.19% 11.31% 152.02 Council Estate Residents, High Unemployment 5.48% 3.06% 179.01 Council Estate Residents, Greatest Hardship 2.61% 2.52% 103.67 People in Multi-Ethnic, Low-Income Areas 0.00% 2.10% 0.00 Unclassified Unclassified 0.27% 0.06% 440.99

Area Percent GB Percent Index GB=100   £0-5K 9.81% 9.41% 104.26 £5-10K 17.67% 16.63% 106.22 £10-15K 17.63% 16.58% 106.34 £15-20K 14.24% 13.58% 104.83 £20-25K 10.65% 10.39% 102.47 £25-30K 7.75% 7.77% 99.74 £30-35K 5.61% 5.79% 96.88 £35-40K 4.07% 4.33% 94.02 £40-45K 2.98% 3.27% 91.23 £45-50K 2.20% 2.48% 88.55 £50-55K 1.64% 1.90% 86.00 £55-60K 1.23% 1.47% 83.57 £60-65K 0.94% 1.15% 81.27 £65-70K 0.72% 0.91% 79.09 £70-75K 0.55% 0.72% 77.04 £75-80K 0.43% 0.57% 75.10 £80-85K 0.34% 0.46% 73.27 £85-90K 0.27% 0.37% 71.54 £90-95K 0.21% 0.31% 69.90 £95-100K 0.17% 0.25% 68.35 £100K + 0.81% 1.34% 60.06