The massive Wallace Monument, symbol of the fight for Independence, is perched at the western end of the Ochil Hills from which the constituency takes its name. And part of Bannockburn, where Independence was gained, now lies also within its boundaries.

Ochil has been formed out of three previous constituencies (and three current local authority areas): part of Stirlingshire (held by Michael Forsyth MP, Con), all of Clackmannanshire (held by Martin O’Neill MP, Lab), and all of Kinross-shire (held by Roseanna Cunningham MP, SNP).

The Stirlingshire part of Ochil (12.5%) comprises Bridge of Allan, Logie (including Stirling University), part of Causewayhead, and the former mining villages of Cowie, Fallin and Plean.

The whole of Clackmannanshire is within Ochil (75%). This covers the principal town of Alloa, plus Clackmannan, Tullibody, Sauchie and the small towns of the Hillfoots – Menstrie, Alva, Tillicoultry and Dollar.

All Kinross-shire is also within Ochil (12.5%). This covers the town of Kinross, Milnathort, a series of villages (Kinnesswood, Crook of Devon, Cleish) and a sizeable rural area.

Ochil is one-hour from Edinburgh and Glasgow, and their airports. The main communications links are the M9 (from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Perth) to the West, with access via Stirling and Bridge of Allan; and the M90 (from Edinburgh and Perth), with access from Kinross and Milnathort. Within the constituency, the main roads are the A91 [Wallace Monument-Hillfoots-Kinross], the A907 [Wallace Monument-Alloa] and the A977 [Alloa-Clackmannan-Kinross].

The main railway station is in Stirling, with regular trains to Edinburgh, Glasgow and Perth.

Ochil has been called "Scotland in Miniature". It is where the Highlands meet the Lowlands, and where East meets West.

Ochil has the great sweep of the Ochil Hills, substantial farmland, vast whisky bonds, breweries, glassmaking, old mining communities, little textile towns, Stirling University, and new high-tech companies in the information technology field. Many local people are commute to work in Stirling, Perth, Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Ochil has vast Victorian mansions, numerous modern homes, and sprawling council house estates. Ochil has some wealth, modest prosperity, and areas of real poverty.

The 1970s and 80s saw a rapid decline in the industrial base (mining, engineering and textiles) of Clackmannanshire, and a growth in the service sector. Alloa has recently been promised a cash injection under the Small Towns Initiative, and better communications links via a new Kincardine Bridge.

The 1997 electorate of Ochil is 57,000.

Three different political traditions come together in Ochil, and no clear profile will emerge until the constituents vote as one in the 1997 General Election.

On all past voting records, it will be a two-horse race between Labour (held Clackmannan 79 onwards) and the SNP (won Clackmannan in the two elections of 74, won Kinross in the parliamentary by-election 95).

At local government level, the SNP has had a representative in some elected body every year in Ochil since 1946. Perth and Kinross Council is SNP controlled, as Clackmannan has been in the past (currently 3 SNP councillors, 8 Labour, 1 Con). The 1994 Regional Elections gave Labour 42.2% to the SNP’s 39%, with the Tories trailing on 11.5%. And the three local by-elections in Clackmannan in 1996 saw a 6.5% swing from Labour to the SNP.

Will Conservatives and Liberals vote tactically for the SNP? Will voters in Kinross stay with the SNP now that the Tories no longer are the main opponent? How many traditional Labour voters, strongly courted by the SNP, will move to the Nationalists? And what will be the effect of the "George Reid factor" as a local man and former MP?

If everyone votes exactly the same way as in 1992, Labour will have a majority of around 7500 over the SNP. If everyone votes the same way as in the last European election, Labour will have a majority of around 3500. And if everyone votes as in the most recent local elections and by-elections, it will be an absolute cliff-hanger.

In a tight election, the efficiency of the parties in identifying and delivering their vote could well make the difference between victory and defeat.

The SNP needs a swing of over 8% from Labour. This is substantially less than that achieved by George Reid when he first won the seat, coming from third place and overtaking a Labour majority of 10,000 to win comfortably by 3500 votes.