TACTICAL voting is expected to be deployed more than usual at this General Election.

Not voting for the party you would normally support but for another to keep a closest rival out.

East Dunbartonshire is a seat where that looks likely to be a factor again, as it has been in the past.

Jo Swinson is the current MP, elected in 2005 as the 'Baby of the House' aged 25, defeating Labour to take the seat for the Liberal Democrats.

East Dunbartonshire and its predecessor Strathkelvin and Bearsden has been one of the most changeable and unpredictable seats in the country.

In 40 years it has been held by all four parties.

Since 1983 the seat has been held by Tory, Labour and LibDem. You need to go back to 1974 for a SNP win.

It covers the affluent towns and villages to the north of Glasgow, including Bearsden, Milngavie and Lenzie.

With the predicted decline in the LibDem vote following coalition with the Conservatives and Nick Clegg's tuition fees U-turn, Labour has hopes of reclaiming it.

Amanjit Jhund is looking to overturn the slender majority of 2184 and return it to Labour after two defeats.

The SNP have also set their sight on a win, while not historic would be significant, given it was an also ran in fourth place at the last two elections.

Journalist, John Nicolson has the job of increasing the SNP's 10% share of the vote to something capable of unseating Jo Swinson.

But where will those LibDem 2010 voters go if the predicted collapse takes place?

Many were SNP supporters voting LibDem to kick out Labour, many were Labour voters who wanted a change.

Some would also be Tories who backed the candidate most likely to beat Labour.

However she was elected Ms Swinson held it, albeit with a reduced majority, five years later.

Now with SNP supporters certain to vote SNP it could come down to whether Labour can win back its traditional support and whether Tories switch their tactical vote to Labour or the LibDems to thwart the SNP.

The LibDems hope that people who voted no from other parties will back the sitting MP to keep the SNP out.

Ms Swinson said: "It is very different to the last election. This is going to be between myself for the LibDems and the SNP.

"The economy is still the number one issue. People recognise it is improving but they want to ensure that continues and the recovery is secure.

"The SNP surge in the polls is a topic on the doorsteps. We had a 60% no vote in East Dunbartonshire but the SNP are experiencing that surge in East Dunbartonshire just as they are in the rest of the country and many people are worried the SNP could win."

If the 40% yes voters back the SNP it would take a mighty pro union party pact backing one candidate to prevent the seat going to the SNP.

Ms Swinson thinks some are backing her.

She said people recognise her as a hard working local MP and thinks Labour's eye is on other seats.

She added: "If I look at Labour now they are focussing on trying to hold the seats they have.

"It is an electorate that is engaged and we had the highest turnout at the referendum.

"I have had Conservative and Labour voters saying they will vote Liberal Democrat to stop the SNP.

"It is going to be close. I think I can win but it will be between me and the SNP."

The neighbouring seat of West Dunbartonshire includes Clydebank and Dumbarton and has been Labour with the only challenge certain to be from the SNP.

Gemma Doyle won the seat convincingly last time taking over from Labour veteran John McFall, but she faces a tougher challenge from Martin Docherty of the SNP, a Glasgow councillor.

Ms Doyle has a 17,000 majority but with a 54% yes vote in the referendum she has a difficult task keeping the seat, should that translate into a big SNP vote.