Dumfries is a large, rural seat in the south west of Scotland, north of the Solway Firth, with industry centred on agriculture, tourism, textiles and forestry. Some light engineering is also undertaken, but the only heavy industry is boilermaking, found on the outskirts of Annan.
The area of Crichton in Dumfries is a key centre for further education in the constituency, and is home to the UK’s first ever multi-university campus. The site is shared by Glasgow University, Paisley University, Dumfries & Galloway College and Bell College, and is also being developed as a business park to create more jobs for the area.
Tourists are attracted by the scenery, which includes the Lowther Hills and Eskdalemuir Forest, and also by the towns of Lochmaben (supposedly the birthplace of Robert the Bruce) and Dumfries. The seat also contains the town of Gretna, its proximity to the England/Scotland border has made it the notorious wedding place for eloping English couples.
This constituency was represented by Tory grandee Sir Hector Munro from 1964 until he retired in 1997. His retirement coincided with the Labour landslide to deliver a Labour victory in what had been a true blue seat.