John McAllion
[1] McAllion was born in Glasgow, where he was educated at St Augustine's RC Comprehensive School in Milton.Following a brief period spent working as a clerical employee for the Post Office, he was admitted to the University of St Andrews to study modern and medieval history, graduating with a second-class honours degree in 1972.The Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) pulled out of contesting the seat in favour of McAllion, but ironically this may have assisted his defeat.On 9 February 2006, McAllion stood for the SSP in the Dunfermline and West Fife by-election, coming fifth of nine candidates with 1.6% of the vote.He was elected co-chair (along with Morag Balfour) at its conference in October 2007, but he stood down during his term of office for personal reasons.