The battleground for the 2007 election will be in Scotland’s most marginal seats. Due to the 4 party split in Scotland, there are quite a number of seats that could change hands with a fairly small swing. For example, Labour would lose Cumbernauld and Kilsyth to the SNP with just over a 1% swing and Nicola Sturgeon only requires a 3% swing for her to take Govan for the SNP.
The list to the right highlights the top 15 most vulnerable seats. There are a number of seats in this table where the SNP, Liberal Democrats and Conservatives will have to work hard to maintain their gains at the last election. However, and crucially in terms of any potential change of government, there are a number of seats where Labour are at risk of losing, principally to the SNP with a fairly small swing.
The selection of these 15 seats is based purely on the result of the last election and the low percentage swing required for a change of MSP.
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Glasgow Govan: 2007 Candidates
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2007 Majority:
744 (3.46%) | 
Nicola Sturgeon MSP
Nicola was born in 1970.
Nicola Sturgeon entered the Scottish Parliament in 1999 and became the Party's spokesman on Education, Health, and Community Care and justice.
She is currently the party leader of the SNP at Holyrood and is deputy leader of the SNP. She was returned to the Scottish Parliament in 2003 as a list MSP.
Before entering the parliament in 1999 she worked as a solicitor at the Drumchapel Law and Money Advice Centre in Glasgow.
She graduated from Glasgow University in LLB (Hons) and has a diploma in Legal practices
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Swing required:
1.73% | 
Gordon Jackson
Born in 1948 Gordon started his political career in 1999, becoming the Member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow Govan.
He is currently Deputy Convener of the Justice and Home Affairs Committee and in view of Govan's shipbuilding interest, he is Convener of the Cross Party Group on Shipbuilding. He is also a member of the Cross Party Groups on Sport and Epilepsy.
Mr Jackson is a QC and is renowned as one of Scotland's top criminal lawyers. This has attracted some controversy with internal party critics and the opposition claiming he could not continue to be a working QC and MSP a the same time. He recently announced he would be stepping back from his legal work.
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Swing required:
16.54% | 
Chris Young
Chris enjoys performance poetry, limericks, and song-writing. He also enjoys badminton, gym and swimming. In late 2002, Chris won The Weakest Link, making Anne Robinson crack a smile in the process. Other television appearances include Countdown and University Challenge.
Convener, Scottish Young Liberal Democrats (1997)
Computer Officer, Menzies Campbell's Campaign Team (1997)
Treasurer and Convener of DELGA-Scotland (LibDem LGBT issues group) (1999-2000) (seat on Scottish Party Executive and Policy Committee)
Previously active as a Community Councillor in St Andrews (1998-2000); instrumental in benefit take-up campaign and overview of planning decisions
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Swing required:
17.03% | 
Martyn McIntyre
Martyn is the assistant to the MSP Murray Tosh. Martyn and has gained political experience running in the Dunbarton West Council by-election in 2006.
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Swing required:
19.95% | 
Asif Nasir
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Swing required:
20.35% |
Elinor McKenzie
Communist Party
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| Parties Key Target Seats |
Each of the parties will have decided on their own key target seats. The tables below are based purely on the percentage swing required to take the seat. Each of the parties will have decided their own key targets on the basis of swing required, local canvas return information and local intelligence. |
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| SNP Key Target Seats |
In addition the SNP see Gordon as a key target seat. Despite being in third place and 15% behind the Liberal Democrats, the fact that Alex Salmond is standing in this seat and the effort that the SNP will put into winning Gordon makes this a real possibility for them. |
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| Conservative Key Target Seats |
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