This seat is located north-east of Glasgow in an industrial working-class environment, with Coatbridge serving as by far its largest town.
The townís industrial legacy stretches from the late 19th century when Coatbridge was know as the "Iron Burgh".
Smaller communities are found at Glenboig, Stepps, Auchinloch and Chryston and, like Coatbridge, most have economies centred around various manufacturing industries.
Unemployment is relatively high, as is the number of council-rented homes - Calder is mostly made up of council estates.
Coatbridge also boasts Scotlandís only electric tramway in its Summerlee Heritage Park, which uses working exhibits to breathe life into the industrial heritage of the area.
Former Minister for Films Tom Clarke has held this constituency since a by-election in 1982 following the death of Labour MP James Dempsey.
His majority at the last election was a commanding 19,292 votes. Labourís Elaine Smith won the seat in the Scottish Parliament elections in 1999 with ease, with a solid 59.35% of all the votes cast, and accrueing a majority of 10,406 votes over the SNP candidate.