Michael Marra, the bookmakers' favourite to become the next leader of Scottish Labour, has described Israel's military campaign in Gaza as a "genocide" and defended protesters who take "direct action" against it. The Dundee-born MSP made the comments in an exclusive interview with the Sunday Mail as he bids to replace Anas Sarwar following the party's disastrous Holyrood election result in May, which left Scottish Labour with just 17 MSPs.
Defending the right to protest
Marra said he believes in and defends the right of people to take direct action on issues that matter greatly to them. He said what is happening in Palestine matters greatly to him too, describing it as "that process of genocide that has been ongoing."
He said it is right that people are on the streets protesting against that, adding that many of those caught up in it are "just people who are genuinely protesting against a great injustice, a huge crime that they want to see resolved."
Marra said he does not think people being jailed for making those points is the right thing, though he acknowledged there may be a legitimate case around some of the underlying organisation. His comments come after 193 protesters in Scotland have faced jail sentences for wearing t-shirts and holding up banners in peaceful protests, and after Palestine Action activists accused of vandalising Donald Trump's Turnberry golf course were charged with an offence alleged to have a "terrorist connection."
A socialist agenda for rebuilding
The frontrunner, who faces South Scotland MSP Joe Fagan in a membership vote, has vowed to rebuild the party from the grass roots up with a socialist agenda to revive public services and rebuild the economy. He said Scotland has become stuck in a political paralysis with people gaming the electoral system on the basis of division over the constitution.
Marra said he believes in a stronger Scotland in a changed UK, meaning a stronger economy, education system, NHS and public services. He said he is open to more powers if they help realise those outcomes, but that it has to be towards that purpose. He said people who voted Yes in 2014 are conscious that Scotland is a weaker country than it should be, with too many young people out of work and public services in a state of perpetual crisis.
Marra said socialism is an exciting idea and he believes fundamentally in a more equal country, with the state having a strong role to play. He said the social responsibility and moral mission at the heart of the Labour Party is something the party has recently shied away from.
Free school meals and the path to leadership
Marra indicated he would be open to supporting universal free school meals to combat concerns that thousands of children are going hungry as a result of the cost of living crisis and rising poverty. He said he is open to whatever is the best way to make sure kids don't go hungry, and if that is universalism then they should go ahead, though he noted there have been real problems in delivering existing entitlements, with the Scottish government not putting money or facilities behind them.
Marra, 46, previously worked as an advisor to former leader Iain Gray and was elected as a North East Scotland MSP in 2021 after replacing his sister Jenny Marra on the regional list. He said the SNP cannot answer questions as to what independence might look like to build sustained support, and that if Labour continues with the status quo, support for independence will remain around 50-50. He said the party needs to transform back into a grassroots movement and find common ground with the whole country, adding that there is no viable route to government without winning in the northeast, the highlands, the south of Scotland and the west.
A ballot of members opened last week, and the new Scottish Labour leader is due to be announced on September 19.
