BANFFSHIRE and BUCHAN COAST Liberal Democrats

Post-election column (May)

============================================================

Thank you and election anaylsis

=============================================================

I am delighted to have been re-elected as MP for Gordon after one of the longest, most volatile and gruelling election campaigns I have undertaken. I want to thank most sincerely the many people who gave me a truly warm welcome - especially those who voted for me but also those who did not but nevertheless wished me well.

Given the SNP's claim that they were going to win the seat I was naturally pleased to secure a majority of getting on for 7000.

The national leaders' debates set the campaign alight but people told me it made them confused and uncertain - especially as to whether their vote should be determined by local issues and who best to represent them or by backing the party they felt most affinity to at a national level.

What was outrageous to me was when the BBC told viewers that even when the Liberal Democrats were in the lead in the polls and Labour in third place the voting system would ensure that Labour got the most seats and the Lib Dems the least. This helped turn what looked like it was going to be a dramatic change election into an old fashioned tribal response of people voting against what they feared rather than for what they hoped. So people voted Conservative to get Labour out or (especially in Scotland) Labour to keep the Tories out.

In the event I believe the normal practice of tactical voting did not help as Labour voters believed they were better placed and the SNP was declaring Gordon a target seat. Only Conservatives seemed to accept that they couldn't win.

In the event, although the SNP increased their vote they failed to mount a strong challenge.

Labour exploited the difficulties faced by the City Council in the part of the constituency which falls within the city boundary. This helped the Labour vote hold up in spite of the fact they vehemently oppose the Third Don crossing which is so important to residents living north of the Don.

============================================================

A better deal for the North East

=============================================================

Right across the constituency I found people concerned and angry that in spite of the massive contribution we make to the national economy we are not getting the fair funding we need if we are to keep delivering economic growth, jobs, exports and tax revenues.

Aberdeen's title as Europe's oil and gas capital belies the fact that we have no by-pass, no Third Don crossing, no commuter rail services, severe pressure on schools, health services and other essential public services.

It is my job, along with MSPs and councillors, to intensify the campaign for fair funding for the North East so that we can continue to make an invaluable contribution to the British economy. It is in the national interest that London and Edinburgh listen and act if they want to secure the economic future our area offers.

In Kintore there is strong support for a station and I will keep up the pressure for this to be taken forward as I will to resolve the bottleneck at Inveramsay. Of course, these are matters for the Scottish Parliament but they are important for our area's economic efficiency and the contribution we make to the UK economy.

============================================================

What next?

=============================================================

I am of course disappointed that the promised surge in Liberal Democrat support which might have delivered 100 or more seats did not materialise. Ironically, the result was still a Parliament where no party has an overall majority.

This gave the Liberal Democrats real influence but without the bargaining strength the polls had appeared to forecast. Nevertheless, I have been engaged in a series of discussions where we have approached the result in a constructive spirit to ensure strong and stable Government which delivers as much of Liberal Democrat policies as we can secure and enables us to tackle the UK financial and economic crisis.

Instead of a minority Conservative Government able to impose much of its own agenda we have a coalition Government which will deliver much of what I campaigned for including tax cuts, green jobs, support for schools and political reform.

I believe it will provide a fair society and be good for Gordon and Scotland.

ENDS