The seat of Dunfermline West contains all of the town of Dunfermline as well as territory on the north bank of the Firth of Forth. It takes in the affluent villages of Limekilns, Crossford and Cairneyhill, but also includes coalfield communities such as High Valley, Torryburn and Oakley.
Dunfermline was once Scotland's capital city and eight kings are buried here, amongst them Robert the Bruce, but today its grandeur has all but disappeared and it has become just another light industrial, mainly working-class town. Textiles, engineering and the manufacture of synthetic materials are the main industries, although the seat also contains rural areas.
One of the greatest problems for Dunfermline West over recent years has been the severe decline in business for the Rosyth dockyards and closure of the naval base there. However, various business innovation projects have been set up in the area, to encourage the development of new industries. Rosyth is also going to be transformed into an international ferry port, and services to Europe are projected to start in 2002.
The people of Dunfermline have elected Labour MPs since 1935, however Labourís position has not been quite as solid here as in neighbouring Dunfermline East.