She was the toast of the last Holyrood elections, but retired GP Dr Jean Turner had to settle for third place yesterday.

The hospital campaigner took the seat of Strathkelvin and Bearsden from Labour in 2003, proving an ordinary, professional woman could challenge the major parties and win. Her 438 majority was the shock result of the poll.

However, this year, despite the expectation that other hospital service closures could topple major players in Labour's heartland and a range of colourful characters out to emulate Dr Turner's success, the opposite occurred.

David Whitton seized Strathkelvin and Bearsden back for Labour.

In Cathcart, retired surgeon David Smith, who was fighting to bring services to the Victoria Infirmary, also lost.

In Lanarkshire where the SNP, NHS First and independent Julie McAnulty all fought campaigns linked to the downgrading of Monklands A&E, Labour clung to power.

Dr Turner points out that receiving 18.42% of the vote is still a significant result for a team of "octogenarians" funded by local generosity.

"They were all trying to get me out and I came in third with the cheapest campaign in terms of money," she said.

But a number of other factors are thought to have influenced her and Mr Smith's final tallies.

Perhaps their relatively late entrances into the fray had an impact and perhaps voters were thinking of other issues, after all the closure of A&E departments in Greater Glasgow - though controversial - was agreed some time ago.

However, the more recent decision to close Monklands A&E also failed to shift sufficient voters towards health candidates.

Mev Brown, who founded NHS First, says the key problem was the election became about one issue, independence, not health or education or law and order.

Dr Turner said: "What saddens me is the parliament has changed. They have got rid of all the small parties, the independent voices But I am leaving with a clear conscience and I feel I have done my best. David doesn't always win against Goliath."

12:01am Saturday 5th May 2007

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