Nominations close on Monday in the race to succeed Anas Sarwar as the leader of Scottish Labour. Three MSPs are seeking to replace him, with Scottish finance spokesperson Michael Marra and Joe Fagan, a former council leader who was elected as an MSP for the South of Scotland in May, both confirmed as being on the ballot.
Sarwar's resignation and backlash
The former MSP, who described the post as the hardest job in British politics, stepped down last month to join the House of Lords and be part of Andy Burnham's government. His decision to quit just over two months after Scottish Labour suffered its worst Holyrood election result has angered some party members.
Monica Lennon, who lost her seat at Holyrood in May, but now takes up the list place vacated by Lord Sarwar, is also hoping to run, but may not have the necessary support. With nominations closing at 10am on Monday, candidates have to have the support of at least three MSPs, three MPs and two trade unions before they can make it on to the ballot.
Hustings and voting timeline
A series of hustings is planned, with voting to get under way on August 28. Members then have until September 17 to complete their ballots, with the result declared on Saturday September 19.
Candidates' pitches
At a hustings last week Ms Lennon said that the election defeat had left Scottish Labour facing its “worst ever crisis”. Adding that members face a “stark” choice, she said they could “either continue with the old ways that lost election and talented MSPs or choose a leader with the vision, courage and empathy to make it electable”.
Mr Marra said the next leader had to “renew” the party and “rediscover its moral purpose”. He said that the contest must find the candidate best able to “bring the party together” and “galvanise that movement”, warning supporters: “If we don’t change, we’ll be here again in five years. And how’s that going to feel?”
Mr Fagan said that Scottish Labour has to “change more than the faces at the top”, and the party must get “squarely on the side of the working people of this country”. Adding that Scottish Labour needed to rediscover its “courage, boldness and imagination”, he told supporters: “I am standing to unite our party, to back our movement, to seize this moment and rebuild Scottish Labour as a party for working people of Scotland.”
