Lothians

Edinburgh Central - just the Big 4 here, and this seat is notable for the fact that all four candidates are women. Sarah Boyack might just hold on here, but she faces strong challenges from both Siobhan Mathers of the LibDems and Shirley-Anne Somerville of the SNP. Unless opponents to Labour rally round one or the other of those two, it looks like the vote will be split sufficiently to allow Boyack through the middle.

Edinburgh East and Musselburgh - again, just the Big 4. Incumbent MSP Susan Deacon has stood down, and Labour's candidate to replace her is Norman Murray. The SNP challenger is Regional MSP Kenny MacAskill. The numbers say a Labour win, but be careful: the last time a sitting MSP stood down and his party's candidate faced a challenge from a sitting Regional MSP, the majority got slashed to less than 600 votes. This could be closer than some think, and if Labour have a bad night, it could produce a surprise.

Edinburgh North & Leith - still just the Big 4. Former Communities Minister Malcolm Chisholm is defending it, and should survive. The SNP look like the strongest challengers, but the LibDems will try to capitalise on their performance in the 2005 Westminster Election. Again, a split opposition will prove useful for Chisholm.

Edinburgh Pentlands - another seat with just the Big 4. It looks like former Tory Leader David McLetchie will stay on here.

Edinburgh South - just the big 4. Mike Pringle will probably consolidate his 158-vote majority, but it may well have more to do with a weakened Labour performance than a strong LibDem one.

Edinburgh West - finally, an Independent! John Gibb is up against the Big 4. The incmbent is LibDem Margaret Smith, and it looks like she'll be re-elected.

Linlithgow - just the Big 4 again: Mary Mulligan is the incumbent, SNP Shadow Education Minister Fiona Hyslop is the challenger, and it looks like a Hyslop win right now.

Livingston - the Big 4 plus a candidate from Action to Save St. John's Hospital. Bristow Muldoon is defending his seat, but he'll face a strong challenge from Angela Constance of the SNP, who looks like the winner. But the presence of a hospital campaigner could upset things: could he split the anti-Labour vote, or could he take more votes from Labour? Time will tell.

Midlothian - the Big 4 along with a candidate from the 'Had Enough Party'. It looks like Communities Minister Rhona Brankin will hold onto her seat.

The Regional List - has produced a ballot paper too large for the ordinary counting machines. We have the Big 8, we have the Had Enough Party, Scottish Voice, Socialist Labour and UKIP. There's the BNP, the CPA and the SCP. The Publican Party have a candidate, and Scotland Against Crooked Lawyers have two. The SEP have a candidate, as do Adam Lyal's Witchery Tour Party. Margo MacDonald is seeking re-election, while the other Independents are Alex Scott, John Wilson and Duncan Thorp. Assuming that Kenny MacAskill doesn't pull off the win in Edinburgh East & Musselburgh, he'll be on the List along with Ian McKee and Stefan Tymkewycz. My numbers suggest that Shirley-Anne Somerville will get in too, but she's the seventh person to do so and my numbers don't project a win for Margo MacDonald, who surely will be re-elected. So, sadly for Shirley-Anne and the SNP, the Party will have only three Regional Members. Labour will gain one in Lord Foulkes, the Tories' Gavin Brown will be elected, and the Greens will get Robin Harper re-elected.