The SNP will be hoping to complete a clean sweep of Dundee by overturning the 7,000 majority held by Labour in the west of the city.
A diverse constituency taking in the leafy Perth Road, the city’s cultural quarter and areas such as Charleston and Menzieshill, candidates who hope to win will be stressing their credentials across a wide variety of people, albeit most likely from a left-leaning point of view.
The seat is likely to be a straight fight between the SNP and Labour, with both putting forward strong candidates and, interestingly, basing themselves in Lochee.
Nationalist Chris Law was high profile during the independence referendum with his refurbished Sprit of Independence fire engine and is pounding pavements to make sure as many voters as possible come face to face with his affable personality.
Michael Marra was drafted in at the last minute for Labour after Jim McGovern withdrew on health ground but immediately hit the ground running with a smart, well organised and hardworking campaign which wants to make direct contact with as many voters as possible.
Given Dundee was Scotland’s “Yes City”, with the largest support for independence anywhere in the country, and the predicted national swing, Law must be considered favourite to win the seat.
However, it will be more of a contest than many would have predicted a few weeks ago with Marra at the helm for Labour.
The city has been ahead of the curve when it comes to Scottish politics, seeing an SNP surge before the rest of the country. Will it also be the first place to kick back unexpectedly? Probably not, but stranger things have happened.
The candidates
* Michael Marra (Labour) Married father-of-three Michael has a plan to bring hundreds of jobs to the city, including winning North Sea jobs for our port from the decommissioning of oil platforms. Michael, who works at the University of Dundee, is also supporting parents angry at the decision to close Menzieshill High School. The 35-year-old believes the SNP has too much power in Dundee and wants to be a big voice who stands up for the community when they get it wrong.
* Chris Law (SNP) Chris is a Dundee businessman who employs a small team in the financial sector. He was a leading Yes campaigner during the referendum and founder of the Spirit of Independence road tour of communities in a refurbished fire engine, which attracted national and international interest. He lives in the constituency and has stayed in Dundee for more than 30 years. He has vowed to fight for the welfare state after watching his mother battle Multiple Sclerosis.
* Daniel Coleman (Liberal Democrats) Dundee law student Daniel was McManus 2013 Citizen of the Year and is a well-known local football referee. He has been chairman of the Dundee Youth Council and has represented the city as a Member of the Scottish Youth Parliament. Born in St Mary’s he currently studying at the University of Dundee. On leaving secondary school, Daniel became the sole Scottish representative on the British Youth Select Committee at Westminster on Education issues.
* Pauline Hinchion (Scottish Greens) Pauline is co-convenor of Dundee and Angus Green Party. She previously stood as a Green Party candidate at council elections and as a List candidate at Holyrood. Originally from Cork, Eire, Dundee has been her home for 15 years. She is a trustee of two local environmental charities, is a member of the Dundee Women for Independence group and campaigns with local people on local issues and environmental issues.
* Nicola Ross (Conservatives) Nicola is a proud Dundonian and a graduate of the University of Dundee. In the last ten years she has worked in local government and for Capability Scotland. She strongly believes that decision-making should be made by communities. Her personal experience of disability, with a mild form of cerebral palsy, means she understands barriers some people face. She is advocate of equality of opportunities and disability rights.
* Jim McFarlane (Scottish Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition) Dundee trade unionist Jim has pledged to be a campaigning alternative to cuts and austerity. He said the city is facing a major crisis in rising levels of poverty, benefit sanctions, low pay and deep cuts to public spending. He said: “We’re calling for an end to all cuts. For all councils, the Scottish Government and Westminster to set no cuts budget.”