George Robertson Labour Bill Tynan Labour Charles III William, Duke of Rothesay Swinney government The Rt Hon John Swinney MSP The Rt Hon John Swinney MSP Kate Forbes MSP Sixth session Alison Johnstone MSP Angela Constance MSP Dorothy Bain KC The Rt Hon Lord Carloway KC PC United Kingdom Parliament elections European Parliament elections Local elections Referendums Starmer ministry The Rt Hon Keir Starmer MP The Rt Hon Ian Murray MP On 4 August 1999, NATO announced that the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Hamilton South, in Scotland, George Robertson, had been chosen as their new Secretary-General.

This meant that Robertson was required to resign from his seat which he had won at the 1997 general election.

The Labour Party selected Bill Tynan, a locally based trade union official, to defend the seat.

The Scottish National Party, which was likely to provide the main challenge, chose Annabelle Ewing.

This figure was surpassed, when thirteen candidates stood at the 2009 by-election in Glasgow North East.