Demographic

The population of the constituency is 80,500, slightly down on what it was in 2001 but as far back as 1801 it was 17,701.

The 2001 Census showed that of the total number of people moving to Midlothian (3,034) between 2000 and 2001 more than two-thirds came from elsewhere in Scotland; 13% came from England and Wales; 14% from an unknown place of origin; and only 6% (170) came from a country outside the UK.

Of the two-thirds who moved to Midlothian in 2001 from elsewhere in Scotland - 2,068 of them - over two-thirds were from Edinburgh. The next most popular place of origin was East Lothian followed by the Borders.

And of the 2,134 who moved out of Midlothian 45% went no further than Edinburgh, with 13% heading for the Borders and 10 to East Lothian.