Tweedale, Ettrick & Lauderdale
Liberal Democrat hold

Although Labour advanced into second place, less than 1,500 votes behind David Steel's successor Michael Moore, in 1997, but that is probably as close as they are going to get in this west Borders seat. The Liberal Democrats held this seat in the Scottish Parliament elections two years later with a much more comfortable lead of 4,478, and this over the SNP with Labour just behind in third. With the Conservatives not far behind (though plumb last) the divided opposition should let Moore back even with a share of vote in the low thirties, percentage-wise.

Michael Moore, a Transport spokesman and the political son and heir of David Steel, who shooed him in here after his own 32-year stint, was elected in 1997, one son of the Manse in the steps of another. He is a keen devolutionist who helped broker the Scottish Lab-Lib coalition in 1999 despite having Labour as his own local opponent. Tall, boyish-looking and Ulster-born in 1965, he was educated at fee-paying Strathallan School, Jedburgh Grammar School and Edinburgh University, and worked as an accountant for six years. Notwithstanding his former profession, his role as an assiduous constituency MP involves defence of the local textile industry.

Area Percent GB Percent Index GB=100   Thriving Wealthy Achievers, Suburban Areas 13.21% 14.99% 88.13 Affluent Greys, Rural Communities 3.89% 2.13% 183.08 Prosperous Pensioners, Retirement Areas 3.25% 2.49% 130.89 Expanding Affluent Executives, Family Areas 2.83% 4.43% 63.99 Well-Off Workers, Family Areas 14.06% 7.27% 193.34 Rising Affluent Urbanites, Town & City Areas 1.90% 2.56% 74.22 Prosperous Professionals, Metropolitan Areas 1.29% 2.04% 63.02 Better-Off Executives, Inner City Areas 1.93% 3.94% 48.85 Settling Comfortable Middle Agers, Mature Home Owning Areas 7.64% 13.04% 58.62 Skilled Workers, Home Owning Areas 5.48% 12.70% 43.17 Aspiring New Home Owners, Mature Communities 6.36% 8.14% 78.06 White Collar Workers, Better-Off Multi Ethnic Areas 1.93% 4.02% 48.02 Striving Older People, Less Prosperous Areas 7.31% 3.19% 229.36 Council Estate Residents, Better-Off Homes 23.14% 11.31% 204.58 Council Estate Residents, High Unemployment 4.91% 3.06% 160.38 Council Estate Residents, Greatest Hardship 0.81% 2.52% 32.04 People in Multi-Ethnic, Low-Income Areas 0.00% 2.10% 0.00 Unclassified Unclassified 0.05% 0.06% 78.61

Area Percent GB Percent Index GB=100   £0-5K 9.14% 9.41% 97.14 £5-10K 17.22% 16.63% 103.51 £10-15K 17.39% 16.58% 104.89 £15-20K 14.17% 13.58% 104.29 £20-25K 10.69% 10.39% 102.82 £25-30K 7.85% 7.77% 100.96 £30-35K 5.73% 5.79% 98.94 £35-40K 4.20% 4.33% 96.90 £40-45K 3.10% 3.27% 94.90 £45-50K 2.31% 2.48% 92.98 £50-55K 1.74% 1.90% 91.16 £55-60K 1.32% 1.47% 89.45 £60-65K 1.01% 1.15% 87.84 £65-70K 0.78% 0.91% 86.33 £70-75K 0.61% 0.72% 84.92 £75-80K 0.48% 0.57% 83.60 £80-85K 0.38% 0.46% 82.36 £85-90K 0.30% 0.37% 81.19 £90-95K 0.24% 0.31% 80.10 £95-100K 0.20% 0.25% 79.07 £100K + 0.99% 1.34% 73.60