The Glasgow East constituency was formed before the 2005 general election, when the Westminster political map of Scotland was redrawn, from two former constituencies - Glasgow Baillieston and Glasgow Shettleston.

It covers much of the East End of the city, stretching from Gallowgate almost to Coatbridge, in Lanarkshire, and taking in Easterhouse, Barlanark, Parkhead - home of Celtic - and Garthamlock.

It contains large areas that rate highly on the indices of multiple deprivation, with poor housing, unemployment, drugs and antisocial behaviour causes of concern. It has attracted about £140 milion of public investment in recent years to improve the housing stock.

David Marshall, whose decision to stand down because of ill health sparked the by-election, has been the MP for the area since 1979. At the last general election, Labour's majority was 13,507.

The total population is just over 89,300, according to the 2001 census. Unemployment among men over 25 is about 10 per cent, while unemployment among women over 25 is more than 25 per cent. Male life expectancy is 63, 14 years below the United Kingdom average, and only 7.6 per cent of residents have a degree. About 50 per cent have no qualifications at all.

Forty six per cent of people live in social housing. Owner-occupancy runs at around the same level, mainly because of council house sales and the presence in the constituency of the relatively affluent Mount Vernon area.

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