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The Rt Hon Sir Malcolm Bruce MPLiberal Democrat MP for Gordon |
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This profile relates to the Westminster parliamentary constituency of Gordon
Gordon
Constituency Boundaries of Gordon
(Map courtesy of Ordnance Survey)
Gordon, located in North East Scotland has an electorate in excess of 73,000 and straddles central Aberdeenshire and the northern suburbs of Bridge of Don, Danestone, Bankhead and Dyce in the City of Aberdeen.
It spreads from the North Sea in the east, through Garioch and Strathbogie, to the edge of the Cabrach in the west. Towns within the constituency include Inverurie, Ellon, Huntly, Kintore and Oldmeldrum.
The Westminster seat of Gordon differs significantly from the Scottish Parliamentary seat. Approximately a third of the population lives in the City part of the constituency; this includes the expanding Aberdeen Airport and important industrial estates home to BP's North Sea headquarters and many important oilfield supply companies.
In the 1980s North Sea oil and gas development made Gordon the most rapidly expanding constituency in Scotland, as Aberdeen attracted workers to its growing commuter belt. Towns such as Ellon and Inverurie, to the north of the city, grew rapidly along with commuter settlements such as Balmedie, Potterton, Pitmedden and Newburgh. The constituency became one of the largest in the United Kingdom, with over 80,000 voters and was radically redrawn in time for the 1997 general election.
The constituency has altered radically to accommodate a huge growth in population as a result of the region's oil interests. Forestry, agriculture and food processing are some of the most important industries for the area as well as engineering supplies for the oil and gas industries.
Many Gordon residents work in public sector jobs as council staff, teachers at the Universities and colleges and in the health service plus other professional and service jobs.
Agriculture and food processing remain important local industries with livestock marts at Huntly and outside Inverurie and companies such as Grampian Foods, Deans's Shortbread, Donald Russell, Mackies and Rizza's ice cream and J G Ross the Bakers.
Gordon is also home to the area's only remaining paper mill Arjo Wiggins at Stoneywood.
Much of Aberdeen's prosperity comes from oil; however in recent years there has been a growth in investment in renewables as well as the development of ecologically sound energy resources to begin to supplement the oil industry. In 2005 Aberdeenshire's first wind farm was opened, a 20-turbine wind farm at the Glens of Foudland site near Huntly.
The expansion of Aberdeen's commuter belt in the last 20 years has brought problems of increased traffic; local campaigning has led to the upgrading of the A96 and the A90 and continues for further improvements.
There are also campaigns to establish a third crossing over the River Don as well as campaigns for improved rail links with a commuter service between Inverurie and Aberdeen with a new station at Kintore.
The completion of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route around Aberdeen will provide a strong development impetus to the constituency and hope is that it will not be further delayed.
The area has natural beauty as well and has much to offer visitors. Attractions include many golf courses both links and inland, castles and country houses, hills and beaches and distilleries.
Recently there has been much coverage in press and media about the Trump Organisation's plans to build a championship golf course, hotel and residential complex on a 1400-acre stretch of land on the coastline near Balmedie.
The announcement that the Commonwealth Games in 2014 are to be held in Glasgow has also boosted the campaign to create improved sports facilities throughout Scotland. Public support is growing for a new 50-metre swimming pool for the North East which would serve North Scotland and the Islands and help the new generation of talented swimmers train for the Commonwealth and Olympic Games in the UK.