Election 2016 focus: Cathcart

Political Correspondent

IN the four elections to Holyrood, Cathcart has already been represented by three different MSPs.

James Dornan took the seat for the SNP last time in 2011, ending 12 years of Labour domination.

He defeated former Glasgow City Council leader, Charlie Gordon, who has gone from being a would-be leadership challenger in 2008 to disappearing from politics following the defeat.

Mr Gordon took over the seat in a by-election in 2005 following the resignation of Labour MSP Mike Watson when he admitted fire raising in an Edinburgh hotel.

Cathcart, one of the city’s three southside constituencies stretches from Pollok Country Park in the north west to Carmunnock in the south east and from Mount Florida and Hampden Park in the north to Carnwadric in the south.

As well as areas of high deprivation in Castlemilk and Kennishead, it includes the affluent areas of Newlands and Mansewood, the village of Carmunnock and the multi-cultural Pollokshaws.

Glasgow councillor Soryia Siddique is the challenger looking to win back the seat for Labour.

She has a majority of almost 1600 to overturn, but the SNP are confident of increasing their lead following success in the Glasgow South, Westminster seat last year.

The Conservatives will be hoping to make in-roads and their candidate Kyle Thornton stood in Glasgow South taking 10% of the vote.

The LibDems have had a strong vote and their only political representation in Glasgow is a councillor from the Linn ward within the constituency. Councillor Margo Clark is also the Holyrood candidate

Towards the edge of the constituency on the edge of Glasgow, Castlemilk looms over the south with many people feeling cut off from the city.

In the large housing area, community organisations are struggling to stay alive and help people facing difficulties.

Castlemilk Timebank was set up in response to specific issues in Castlemilk as a result of social and economic exclusion causing social isolation.

People earn time credits by giving services with an hour of everyone’s time being of equal value whether it is walking a dog, shopping or handyman services.

Gloria Murray, co-ordinator of Castlemilk Timebank, said both individuals and community groups are struggling.

She said: “For the community projects a big thing just now is funding. Those who are funded by the council are feeling the cutbacks.

The Timebank is struggling for money to keep the project going. We are like every other community organisation chasing he same sources of funding.”

While Cathcart has the second lowest Job Seekers rate in the city at 2%, Castlemilk one of the poorest areas has been hit hard by welfare changes.

Ms Murray added: “A lot of people are struggling with the change from Disability Living allowance to Personal Independence Payments. We have a lot coming to ask for help with that.

“There is an issue with facilities and amenities. Local businesses say they are having difficulty with the rates in the shopping centre.

“There is not a lot of choice and for shopping and supermarkets people need to travel. Many don’t have a car and the cost of the bus for a family can be expensive.”

The main contest is between James Dornan of the SNP and Soryia Siddique of Labour.

Mr Dornan, after five years as MSP said he is aware of the local issues across the communities and the needs of people.

A former SNP council group leader in Glasgow, before taking the seat in parliament Mr Dornan said: “I have represented constituents to the best of my ability.

“I have been instrumental in setting up organisations in the constituency, including residents groups and business organisations and proposals to bring tourism to the south of the city.

“I’ve heled establish domestic abuse projects and I was the first MSP in the Scottish Parliament to have a paid internship for a local young person.

“If re-elected I would continue to support and expand these organisations throughout the constituency and there are issues like improvement to roads in some areas that I will be looking to with Glasgow City Council on.”

Soryia Siddique, a city councillor since 2012, said she wanted to build on work she has started in her role as a councillor.

She said: “I will support students in further education and stand up against college place cuts, centralising and merger agenda impacting learners and lecturers in Glasgow Clyde College Langside Campus.

“Our children, families and communities deserve a fairer chance in life and providing training and education is central to achieving this.

“I want to build on my progress at the city council on the Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) strategy, aiming for a national strategy. We must also achieve gender equality in the STEM sector.

“I will actively work with economic growth sectors to attract job investment in Cathcart.  

“I will seek to expand the recent Southside multi-million acquisition and repair housing programme and ensure more powers to tackle rouge landlords, improve management standards and property conditions in the private rented sector.”

2011 result

Candidate           party     votes     %

James Dornan   (SNP)    11,918   45          

Charlie Gordon (Lab)      10,326   39.4

Richard Sullivan (Con)       2410     9.2

Eileen Baxendale(LibDem)1118 4.3         

John McKee         (Ind)          450   1.7

2016 candidates

James Dornan    (SNP)

Margot Clark     (LibDem)

Chris Creighton (Ind)

Soryia Siddique  (Lab)

Brian Smith  (TUSC)

   Kyle Thornton (Cons)