Michael Marra, the frontrunner to succeed Anas Sarwar as Scottish Labour leader, has admitted his party has failed working-class communities at Holyrood for nearly 20 years. The North East MSP and finance spokesman said Labour must move beyond "knee jerk SNP bad reactions" and put forward "bold and radical" policies even while in opposition.
Marra is one of four potential candidates to replace Sarwar, alongside fellow MSPs Monica Lennon, Joe Fagan and Katy Clark. He is considered the front runner and has been gathering support from parliamentarians.
Failed to deliver since 2007
In a statement to the Record, Marra conceded his party had made little impression at Holyrood since losing power in 2007. Internal Labour critics believe the party has had almost zero influence in SNP budget negotiations and has instead focused on opposing the Nationalists.
"We need to use the parliament to deliver for our working class communities," Marra said. "Labour delivered a Scottish Parliament and then has too often failed to use it to deliver for working class communities unless we have been in government ourselves."
"People don't need to be convinced that the SNP is a tired and poor government – they need to be convinced that Labour has the ideas and solutions to make their lives better and would be better as an alternative," he added. "We need to guard against knee jerk SNP bad reactions and take every opportunity to show the difference Scottish Labour can make."
Deliver an alternative now
Marra said Labour must produce alternative policies immediately, not wait for the next election. "We need to hold the SNP to account yes – but we need to deliver an alternative now, not just in 2031," he said.
"Under my leadership I want us to put forward bold and radical Labour ideas and try to deliver them in this parliament," he continued. "We have a UK Labour government delivering record funding for the Scottish Government, Scottish Labour in Holyrood should be ensuring that funding is delivering for communities."
"We need to show how we would get it right, not just say the SNP is getting it wrong," Marra said. "That will give people a reason to believe in Scottish Labour again if we can show tangible changes we are delivering from opposition in Holyrood."
"I am the leader who can unite and renew Scottish Labour and return it to its moral purpose - offering hope and fighting for change across Scotland now."
Leadership contest
The remarks come amid claims on the Record's Planet Holyrood podcast that a "stitch up" may prevent Lennon, a left-winger, from becoming a candidate. To get on the ballot, a candidate needs the support of three Labour MSPs and three Scottish Labour MPs, as well as backing from trade unions and a local party.
Sources said the contest may end up being between Marra and Fagan, with Lennon shut out and Clark not running.
