Michael Marra has pledged to give Scottish Labour "back to its members" by devolving power within the party if elected leader. The North East MSP claimed the changes would "give members and local parties far greater influence over how Scottish Labour organises, the political priorities we set, how we campaign and how we develop policy".
Leadership contest after Sarwar resignation
The party is searching for another leader after Anas Sarwar's abrupt resignation last month following a five-year spell in charge. Scottish Labour has not won a Holyrood election since 2003 and returned its lowest number of MSPs ever at May's poll. Sarwar chose to quit after he was offered a peerage and a UK ministerial position by Andy Burnham.
Marra's vision for party renewal
Marra said: "Scottish Labour members know their cities, towns islands and villages. They understand the issues that matter to the people who live there and the political challenges facing their communities. We will give them the power, influence, and resources to act."
"My commitment to the spirit and practice of devolution is absolute. The transfer of power will begin under my leadership, with members, trade unions and affiliates as partners in determining how the reforms work throughout Scotland."
"Scottish Labour has gone backwards in all six Scottish Parliament elections since devolution began. May’s defeat is raw for all of us. We must confront the long-term political and organisational factors behind that decline and make the lasting changes required to rebuild and renew our party."
"We cannot argue for power to be devolved across Scotland while holding it ever tighter at the centre of our own party."
"This is the start of how we do politics differently in Scottish Labour. By empowering our members and rebuilding our party in the communities that founded our movement, we will make Labour more responsive, more visible, and more deeply rooted throughout Scotland."
"To our members I say: this is your party. By placing members and the wider Labour movement at the heart of renewal, we will build a Scottish Labour Party that once again delivers for every place in Scotland."
Next steps in leadership race
Michael will publish a paper, Giving Our Party Back to Our Members, later this week. Leadership candidates require the support of at least two MSPs and MPs before nominations close on August 17 to have a chance of making it onto a ballot of party members. They also need the support of at least three affiliate organisations too, two of which must be trade unions.
