General Election 2010: Sights are set on Darling's Edinburgh South West seat

Published on Thursday 15 April 2010 10:01

IT would be the Tories' dream – to prove their comeback in Scotland with the most dramatic coup of the election, ousting the Chancellor of the Exchequer from his own seat.

So despite Alistair Darling's majority of over 7,000 in Edinburgh South West, the Conservatives are spending lots of money on their campaign in the seat and have brought a procession of shadow cabinet ministers to visit.

Mr Darling knows he is being targeted and says he is treating it as a marginal seat, but is still optimistic.

"It is very much a two-horse race between us and the Tories and that gives people a very clear choice," he says. "I think provided we get our message across, we should be able to hold the seat."

He acknowledges there is disillusionment with politics, but hopes that will not mean a low turnout. "I think it would be a real tragedy if people didn't vote. This election is going to set the course of the country for the next 20 to 30 years."

And he says the one issue that comes up again and again on the doorstep is jobs. "People say 'We have come through this terrible crisis, what are my prospects, my children's and my grandchildren's?'

Everything we have done is aimed at bringing stability to the economy, stopping the recession turning into a depression and, critically, seeing us through to recovery.

It would be a tragedy if the Tories got in with their 'devil take the hindmost' attitude, not prepared to stand with people and do what is necessary to secure the recovery and jobs."

But after 13 years of a Labour Government, is he worried the Tories could persuade people it's "time for a change"?

That's always a risk," says the Chancellor. "But I've met just as many people who say 'I'm not sure about this guy Cameron, I'm not sure what he stands for, I'm not prepared to take the risk'."

The Tories' would-be giant-slayer, local councillor Jason Rust, says he is getting a "very positive" response. "It's looking very close indeed," he says.

The Conservatives originally chose David Potts, a councillor from South Tyneside Council, as their candidate for the seat, but he quit after the local party began moves to deselect him over his alleged failure to turn up at events.

Councillor Rust was selected in October 2008, when the Tories had a 24-point lead in the UK polls and everything seemed possible. Edinburgh South West was added to the Conservatives' list of target seats.

The signs now are of a much closer national result, but the Tories are still hopeful. Cllr Rust says he is reaching into parts of the constituency like Oxgangs and Firrhill which are not traditionally Tory as well as more true-blue territory.

I think in places like Balerno and Colinton, it's like a 1997 feel– people say 'We've had one party in power for quite a while, it's time to give the other side a shot'. There's every vote to play for."

The SNP's Kaukab Stewart says people are "hacked off with politics in general". "I'm presenting myself as the ordinary person who can stand up for them."

She claims there is an upward trend in SNP support in the seat. And she thinks the Tories might be guilty of "overkill" with their campaign. "It just shows they've got lots and lots of money. People are getting a bit fed up with stuff coming through their door."

Scottish Socialist Colin Fox says the issues people are worried about include council cuts – six community projects in the constituency are among those hit – and jobs. "There is a palpable anxiety about folks' employment and security – people have lost their jobs or had their hours cut or their pay cut and they are worried about the future."

And with Redford and Dreghorn barracks in the constituency, Mr Fox says Afghanistan is also a concern. "A lot of soldiers' families have signed our petition against the war – they don't know why they are there."

Edinburgh South West is one of only two seats in the UK being fought by the Communist League, which argues the problem is not who is in government, but the capitalist system itself.

Edinburgh South West candidates

Labour

Alistair Darling, 56, MP since 1987 (Edinburgh Central 1987-2005, Edinburgh SW since 2005). Chancellor of the Exchequer since 2007. Former advocate.

Conservative

Jason Rust, 32, councillor since 2004 (Colinton, 2004-07, Colinton/Fairmilehead since 2007), solicitor, convener of Pentlands neighbourhood partnership.

Lib Dem

Tim McKay, councillor for Inverleith since 2007, former lecturer at Napier University in accounting and finance, chartered accountant. Convener of council's pensions and trusts committee.

SNP

Kaukab Stewart, 43, primary school teacher for 17 years, born in Pakistan and came to the UK aged five. Trained at Moray House College of Education.

Green

Clare Cooney, runs her own camera hire business.

SSP

Colin Fox, 50, former Lothians MSP (2003-07), national spokesman for the SSP, re-founded Edinburgh People's Festival in 2002.

Communist League

Caroline Bellamy, 47, factory sewing machinist, member of GMB union.

The verdict

Election guru Professor John Curtice says: The Tories are targeting the seat, but I'd be staggered if Alistair Darling loses.