ONLY Nicola Sturgeon won a Glasgow seat at Holyrood with a larger majority than James Dornan five years ago.
The SNP candidate picked up 9390 more votes than his nearest rival – Labour’s Soryia Siddique – as his party took all eight city constituencies.
He announced plans to step down last year but reversed his decision in July, and will now seek to add to his ten years in the role.
Aiming to replace him are Craig Carson, Euan Blockley and Joe McCauley.
Carson, a primary school teacher, is Labour’s hope in Cathcart as the party tries to take back seats in the city.
READ MORE: Scottish Parliament election: Glasgow Anniesland constituency in focus
The Lib Dems have selected McCauley, a former Labour member who was the election agent for Siddique at the last election.
Left “politically homeless” during Jeremy Corbyn’s time as Labour leader, he was attracted to the Lib Dems due to the party’s opposition to Brexit.
Blockley, a city councillor for the Linn ward, is the Tory candidate.
Glasgow Cathcart stretches from Pollok Country Park to Cathkin Braes, from Carnwadric to Carmunnock, and has the White Cart Water weaving through.
Dornan’s office is on Clarkston Road, Cathcart, in the centre of a constituency which also includes Pollokshaws, Castlemilk, King’s Park, Langside, Mount Florida and part of Shawlands.
In Battlefield, Marco Giannasi is preparing to reopen his restaurant after a tough year of Covid-19 restrictions.
For more than 25 years, he has owned the Battlefield Rest, a former tram shelter, on Battlefield Road.
Behind his bistro, the former Victoria Infirmary is being transformed into flats.
Marco has been serving takeaways, through a hatch, for the last four months.
He has managed to retain his staff, using the furlough scheme, and is hoping to make the most of the restaurant’s outdoor area from April 26. “Hopefully it’s going to stay dry,” he said.
When his doors reopen, he will be trying to recuperate the money lost over the past year – but believes that could take “well over a year”.
“For businesses that started in a weak position, with no funding behind – perhaps new businesses – that’s going to be a struggle,” he said.
He spent six months “panicking” after an original grant application was turned down due to an increase in the rateable value of the restaurant.
However, he has since secured funding and said the government has “done as much as any”. In Italy, there has been “half of what is done here”, he added.
Marco believes governments should look again “in three to six months to see what different industries need now” to see “where we stand and whether we need any further help”.
He has noticed changes to Battlefield in recent months, with small businesses opening. There is a “buzz” around.
“Some businesses will lose out because of the pandemic and others will grow,” he said.
The serving hatch has become his “wee confessional pew”, where he has built a relationship with customers during lockdown.
There is a “spirit of hope”, he said, people are “missing interaction with humans” and eager for a “wee chat and a glass of wine”.
Over in Castlemilk, constituents are also dealing with the impact of the pandemic.
Parts of the area are ranked among the most deprived in Scotland, and Angela Molloy, the manager at Castlemilk Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), has been trying to help people deal with issues exacerbated by Covid-19.
Between April last year and last month, the bureau worked with more than 1300 clients, most by phone after offices were forced to close.
“Most of things we saw at the beginning were about furlough and redundancy,” she said.
“Food banks as well, we had a higher number of referrals.”
Digital inclusion has been a big issue, she said, particularly among elderly people, who would often pay bills in person.
Data protection rules often prevented CAB staff from helping people directly. It has been “very stressful” for the community, she said.
The reintroduction of benefit sanctions in July has also been a problem, Angela said, adding: “We’re still in this pandemic.”
People’s benefits can be docked if they do not follow government rules, such as failing to look for work.
The CAB also faced closure during the pandemic, when it was revealed some city advice centres would miss out on council funding.
Following protests, funding, although reduced, was found, which will help keep the centre running.
People in Castlemilk need support, Angela said. “They’re building new houses and there’s nothing in place.”
Those on benefits have to pay for transport to travel to a supermarket, she added, as the shopping centre only has a B&M and Iceland, where they can’t get fresh food.
Constituents across Cathcart will have their own priorities heading into this election; issues they believe need to be addressed. Next month, they will get their say.
Here's what the politicians say...
JAMES DORNAN, SNP
"I’ve proudly represented Glasgow Cathcart constituency since 2011. During that time my office and I have worked tirelessly to resolve issues for thousands of constituents – on issues such as housing, health, and justice.
"Every year, I’ve held a Christmas appeal – supporting many vulnerable and less fortunate families from Castlemilk to Pollokshaws.
"I’ve been heavily involved with local charities, I’ve championed mental health at Parliament, and led the political campaign to keep Scottish football at Hampden.
"At such a serious time, we need experienced politicians to work through our recovery from Covid – and I’m the only candidate in Glasgow Cathcart with this experience.
"We cannot leave our recovery to Boris Johnson and Tory austerity – it must be the SNP and Nicola Sturgeon who ensure a green and fair recovery.
"If the SNP are re-elected, it will be a recovery which prioritises education and our health and social care sectors.
"The SNP manifesto, which I’m standing on, will give everyone in Scotland the chance of a better future. When this crisis has passed, we will give the people of Scotland the opportunity to run our own affairs with an independence referendum.
"That’s why on 6th May, you should make it ‘Both Votes SNP’."
CRAIG CARSON, LABOUR
"All communities within Glasgow Cathcart need a more visible and vocal MSP.
"We have had a year like no other and our recovery from the pandemic needs an MSP who is willing to stand up and fight for you. I know I can be your strong, local voice.
"Scottish Labour has an ambitious National Recovery Plan which ensures that the phrase ‘build back better’ means something.
"You only have to look at the number of potholes, unemptied bins and fly tipping in our communities to know that the SNP have taken their eye off the ball for far too long.
"Both votes Scottish Labour would ensure our recovery is what we focus on, not the old arguments and divisions of the past.
"Follow my campaign on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @carson4cathcart."
EUAN BLOCKLEY, SCOTTISH CONSERVATIVES
“For the past 14 years, the SNP has solely focused on their constitutional obsessions while standards in our schools continue to fall.
“If you want the next parliament to be focused one education rather than separation then you must vote Scottish Conservative on your peach ballot paper in May.
“Let’s send the SNP a message they cannot ignore.”
JOE MCCAULEY, SCOTTISH LIB DEMS
"I am no career politician. I know, feel, and understand the real issues that affect the people of Glasgow Cathcart, and I am determined to bring real change to them and their communities.
"Growing up in a disadvantaged, single-parent household, I understand the difficulties many working families face day in day out.
"Now is the time to put recovery first to unite our country and get things done.
"I will use my drive, experience and determination needed to demand better for Glasgow Cathcart.
"I am a passionate believer in community values, I want to see greater funding for mental health services improved strategy to tackle the drugs crisis, better educational opportunities for everyone and a plan to tackle the climate emergency.
"After years of division over independence and the Conservatives’ Brexit, we cannot afford more years of argument with another independence referendum which has always been the immediate, and always will be a top priority for the SNP.
"I will fight for change from the division and damaging politics of Alex Salmond, of Boris Johnson, of Nicola Sturgeon.
"This election is the right time to send a clear message, a message of hope after this pandemic that we can come together and put recovery first."
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules here