Coatbridge, Chryston & Bellshill

2005 result:
Thomas Clarke LAB – 24,725 (64.5%)
Duncan Ross SNP – 5,206 (13.6%)
Rodney Ackland LD – 4,605 (12.0%)
Lindsay Paterson CON – 2,775 (7.2%)
LABOUR HOLD
Majority: 19,519 over SNP

Candidates:
Tom Clarke MP (LAB)
Fiona Houston (CON)

Swing required: SNP – 24.45% LD – 26.25% CON – 28.65%

Council area: -
North Lanarkshire (LAB majority)

Scottish Parliament: -
Coatbridge & Chryston: LAB (majority - 4,510 over SNP)
Hamilton North & Belshill: LAB (majority - 4,865 over SNP)
Cumbernauld & Kilsyth: LAB (majority – 2,079 over SNP)

Electorate: 67,647
of Scottish Parliament Constituencies -
Coatbridge & Chryston: 47,990 (70.9%)
Hamilton North & Belshill: 19,124 (28.3%)
Cumbernauld & Kilsyth: 533 (0.8%)

Prediction:
With a huge majority, Tom Clarke should be returned with relative ease for Labour. Don’t expect the other parties to flood this constituency with activists – Clarke’s majority of 19,519 is the largest numerical majority of any MP currently serving at Westminster. Barring any unforeseen difficulties, this is a relatively straightforward constituency to call.

LAB HOLD