PERTH and Kinross is in the heart of Scotland and offers both highland and lowland landscapes.

Just as its scenery is varied, so is its politics and five parties make up the council.

In 2003, the SNP took 15 seats with 35.6% of the vote which gave the Nationalists five more than closest rivals the Conservatives, with 28.4% of the vote.

A 22.2% share gave the Liberal Democrats nine of the 42 seats, while Labour secured five with 9.8%, and the Independents two with 3.9%.

After the poll, the four opponents of the SNP continued the coalition which they had formed during the previous term.

However, after around a year cracks began to appear and the Liberal Democrats joined forces with the SNP under the leadership of James Doig, an Independent who had led the previous coalition.

A coalition is almost inevitable again after May 3, but who leads it is likely to depend on who achieves most seats, because there is no natural independent successor to Mr Doig, who is retiring after 40 years.

The other independent, John Lloyd, is also intending to retire.

Two of the existing councillors hoping to be elected as independents are Colin Young and Colin Crabbie but, as both currently represent the Conservative Party, they will not have the same independent credentials as Mr Doig.

Under the new boundaries the 41 councillors will be elected in 12 wards for Perth and Kinross's 138,000 population, stretching from Blair Atholl to Kinross and Alyth to Crieff, with the city of Perth at its hub.

It is a wealthy area with low unemployment and serves as a commuter region for some who work in Dundee and Edinburgh.

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