After 13 years, Mohammad Sarwar has stood down as MP for Glasgow Central, and the race to succeed him is shaping up to be one of the closest in the city.
This is probably the only seat in the city where there is a genuine three-horse race, and the fight is between three ambitious young men.
For Labour, Anas Sarwar hopes to carry on where his father left off and hold the 8000 majority left to him.
Last time, the LibDems were in second place and candidate Chris Young is looking to capitalise on the Nick Clegg bounce to increase his party’s share and propel him all the way to Westminster.
However, the SNP was not far behind and it has put one of its bright rising stars, Osama Saeed, in to try and wrest the seat from Labour.
The seat straddles the River Clyde, taking in Tradeston, Kinning Park, and Pollokshields in the south, the city centre, Finnieston and Yorkhill in the north.
Campaigners have a huge area to cover and have to get their message across to several diverse communities. The seat includes areas where the largest concentration of ethnic minority voters live, particularly Pollokshields and Govanhill.
Mr Sarwar and Mr Saeed have a power base within the Muslim community, but such is the diversity of the constituency they cannot rely on a large block vote winning them the seat.
Mr Sarwar, a 27-year-old dentist, said he was a candidate in his own right and not looking to perpetuate any Sarwar dynasty.
He said: “I was 16 when I joined the Labour Party because I believe in equal opportunities for all whatever your background.
“I am not standing as the son of the last MP or as an Asian candidate. I am standing as someone who wants to represent the people of Glasgow Central.
“So I don’t think I should benefit or suffer as a result of who the last MP was.”
Mr Sarwar said the national focus on Labour versus Tories was becoming apparent in the local contest.
He said: “Glasgow does not need to be told the dangers of a Tory Government. Voters realise it is a straight choice between Gordon Brown and David Cameron to lead the next Government.
“I want to be elected to be a strong voice for Glasgow, a full-time MP who will represent every constituent in all parts of Glasgow Central.”
Chris Young is a 35-year-old actor and writer who trained as a solicitor.
He said the Labour dominance of all levels of government in Glasgow was bad for the city and left it with no-one to speak out when things went wrong.
He said: “I am standing in this election to win. The Liberal Democrats take the responsibility of power seriously. We want politics to work for the people.
“People are concerned about school closures, the privatisation of council services and how the council is being run.
“Glasgow’s Labour MPs have failed to stand up for the city and intervene when the council has done stupid things.”
Mr Young has been involved in politics since 1992 and in campaigns in London and St Andrews before settling in Glasgow.
He said the Clegg effect had helped more people come forward looking to help with the campaign.
Mr Young added: “Nick Clegg is a credit to the party and I am glad he is doing what he is doing.”
Osama Saeed has been involved in Muslim politics for many years and was head of the Scottish Islamic Foundation. He also organised protests over the Iraq war and campaigned with parents for a separate Muslim school in Glasgow.
Mr Saeed states on his website: “Chief of my priorities will be opposing public spending cuts while the economy is still recovering.
“The £100billion on new nuclear weapons on the Clyde should be axed and spent on worthwhile and long overdue projects, like high-speed rail.”
GLASGOW CENTRAL CANDIDATES
Findlay Archibald (Pirate party)
John Bradley (CON)
Ian Holt (BNP)
James Nesbitt(Ssp)
Osama Saeed(SNP)
Anas Sarwar (LAB)
Ramsay Urquart (UKIP)
Alastair Whitelaw (Green)
Chris Young (LIBDEMS)
2005 RESULT
Mohammad Sarwar (LAB) 13,518
Isabel Nelson (LIBDEMS) 4,987
Bill Kidd (SNP) 4,148
Richard Sullivan (CON) 1,757
Gordon Masterton (GREEN) 1,372
Marie Gordon (SSP) 1,110
GLASGOW CENTRAL STATISTICS
POPULATION 84,823
ELECTORATE 60,849
UNEMPLOYMENT 5.5%
SOCIAL HOUSING 33.8%
3 seats up for grabs set to bring at least 2 new MPs
SOUTH LANARKSHIRE
South Lanarkshire’s three seats are Labour strongholds where it would require a massive change for any other party to puncture the west of Scotland’s swathes of red on the political map.
However at least two new MPs will be elected as long-serving politicians stand down.
In Rutherglen and Hamilton West Tommy McAvoy had a huge 16,000 majority.
He has now stepped aside after 23 years and unless the LibDems or SNP pull off a shock, Tom Greatrex will take over.
Graeme Horne of the SNP, Ian Robertson of the LibDems, Malcolm Macaskill of the Tories and Janice Murdoch of UKIP are contesting the seat.
East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow is another where the candidates have a mountain to climb to unseat Labour.
Again, Adam Ingram stands down as MP after 23 years, leaving a 14,000 majority, with Michael McCann expected to hold the seat.
The SNP were in second place last time and John McKenna is the candidate. John Loughton for the LibDems, Graham Simpson for the Tories and Kirsten Robb of the Greens and John Houston, independent are his challengers.
In Lanark and Hamilton East Labour’s Jim Hood has a 12,000 cushion to repel Clare Adamson of the SNP, Douglas Herbison of the LibDems, Colin McGavigan for the Tories Rob Sale of UKIP and independent Duncan McFarlane.
Rivals challenge 10,000 majority
Labour’s majority in the North West seat should be enough to see John Robertson returned to Parliament.
Mr Robertson took over the seat from the late Donald Dewar in 2000 and enjoys a 10,000-vote lead over the LibDems with the SNP in third place.
Mags Park is the SNP candidate next week with Natalie McKee attempting to take the LibDems closer to a win in Glasgow.
The Greens, Communist Party, BNP and Tories are also contesting the seat, which covers Knightswood, Anniesland Drumchapel and Yoker and Scotstoun.
The seat includes the BAE Systems’ Scotstoun shipyard which has been an issue following uncertainty over the contract to build aircraft carriers.
Voters in part of the constituency will also be voting in a council by-election after the resignation of Steven Purcell.
The other parties, particularly the SNP, will be looking to make gains at Labour’s expense following the scandal surrounding the departure of Mr Purcell from Glasgow City Council.
