by Enough » Wed May 04, 2005 8:29 pm
Just to follow up Gary's earlier post about A&B being solid LibDem.
I don't think so.
Whatever non-LibDems might have thought about the flip flop party, you had to respect the standing of Ray Michie who was, without doubt, one of the finest constituency MP's in the country. Baroness Michie commanded a 17% majority in Argyll & Bute.
This was squandered by Alan Reid who scrapped back in to replace the Baroness with a measly 5.3% majority.
If just 827 voters desert Alan this time around then Mr Reid will go from wee man to invisible man and lose his seat.
A&B is no longer rock solid, but fairly marginal. Here are the facts:-
2001 Results
Alan Reid - LibDem 9,245
Hugh Raven - Lab 7,592
David Petrie - Con 6,436
Agnes Samuel - SNP 6,433
Des Divers - SSP 1,251
1997 Results
Ray Michie - LibDem 14,351
N. MacCormack - SNP 8,278
R. Leishman - Con 6,774
A. Syed - Lab 5,596
M. Stewart - Ref'rum 713