Meet the candidates

LABOUR Margaret Curran, 49, is MSP for Ballieston and previously served as Social Justice Minister in the Scottish Executive. She has proved to be an asset for Labour in the constituency while its national profile is in the doldrums, but she exaggerated her claim to have lived all her life in the east end - she actually lives on the south side. If she wins, Gordon Brown owes her his political career, but she would rule herself out of a bid for the leadership of the Scottish Labour Party, a contest that follows on from tonight's vote. She would continue to serve as an MP and MSP for the foreseeable future.