Michael Marra has been announced as the new leader of the Scottish Labour party, declaring that Dundee is "my heart and my soul." Speaking to reporters shortly after the announcement, Marra said: "It's where my politics comes from in the first instance, it's the people and place I understand most in my life."
Working with Andy Burnham
Marra said he is looking forward to welcoming Andy Burnham to Scotland "time and again over the coming year," adding: "It's important he builds his relationship with Scotland over the coming months, but our relationship is critical to making sure we deliver results in the general election, when it comes. I will always put Scotland first, and that's what I will be putting to him."
North Sea oil and gas
On energy policy, Marra said Scotland needs "a more rational policy decision, that delivers for the Scottish economy and Scottish jobs." Asked if he supported the proposed Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas developments, Marra said: "I want them to be approved, I do."
Scottish independence and Labour's path
Marra said the people of Scotland do not want a referendum right now, citing opinion polls and his own conversations during 10 months of campaigning across Scotland. He said Labour will continue to make the case for "a stronger Scotland in a changing UK," adding: "I'm not in this for the status quo."
Marra expressed frustration that Labour "ends up in every Holyrood election thinking that we can form a government by some kind of narrow path," saying: "If you can't win seats everywhere in Scotland, you cannot form a government." He added: "We're not big enough to have factions. As Scotland's challenges have got bigger, the Labour party has got smaller."
Swinney's public sector reform plans
Asked if he would oppose compulsory redundancies in the Scottish public sector, as the SNP Government tries to plug a £5 billion blackhole in its finances, Marra said: "Yes, I will." He said it is difficult to see how the Scottish Government reaches its stated goals without such actions, but added: "It is a signal of the catastrophic mess the SNP has made on the public finances." Marra warned that independent forecasters are saying it could be even worse, concluding: "We are coming up a real crunch."
