North East Fife

General Election 2005

North East Fife constituency covers around half the total area of Fife. It is made up of the towns of St Andrews, Cupar and Auchermuchty together fishing villages and towns of the East Neuk In 2005 the constituency gained the ward of Leven East, costing the people of Leven East their Labour MP.

My aim was to work hard to counter the pessimism that our opponents like to foster in constituencies that might seem out of our immediate reach. I was determined to campaign hard for every Labour vote. The more of our natural supporters who voted for us in 2005, the better our base for the 2007 Scottish Parliament list vote and for the local government elections the same day. And I was determined to make it fun.

The CLP were immensely friendly, hardworking and dedicated. As a first-time candidate I could not have wished for more support. I found established Labour politicians very supportive and the late Rachel Squire was especially encouraging and ready with advice whenever I asked.

I was conscious that I had a lot to live up to. Being a Labour candidate is always a privilege, and it is a rare privilege to follow a man like John Smith who was twice candidate in East Fife.

I enjoyed the 2005 campaign immensely. I met wonderful, friendly people, deputised for Gordon Brown at hustings in his Kirkcaldy constituency . Playing a part, however small, in securing Labour’s historic thirdterm is the memory of 2005 that will stay with me. North East Fife Labour polled much better than expected, overhauled the nationalists and is now within striking distance of second place. A hard-working CLP can achieve a great deal.