Scottish Labour leadership contenders have criticised the anonymous briefings that have soured the bitter contest to succeed Anas Sarwar.
At a hustings in Glasgow, Michael Marra blasted the “negative, cowardly” briefings of the last week, while rival Monica Lennon hit out at “dirty tricks and smears”.
MSPs Marra, Lennon and Joe Fagan are all vying to succeed Anas Sarwar after his abrupt departure last month.
Policy disagreements and shared ground
The contest focused on a number of policy issues, such as North Sea oil, public investment and councils, but the contenders also criticised the negativity of the contest so far.
Marra was last week accused of proposing to sack Labour staff at Holyrood, claims he has angrily denied. Anonymous briefings have also been made against all three candidates.
Candidates' remarks
Marra, who is his party’s finance spokesperson, opened by saying of his party’s five defeats in a row to the SNP: “How many times are we going to do this?”
He criticised Labour’s bold pre-election claims of victory and revealed he was told he would win a seat in Dundee, despite the fact he lost comfortably. He said: “Can we find our soul again?” In a clear reference to the sacking claims, he chided those behind the “negative, cowardly” briefings.
Lennon, who is struggling to make the ballot, said Scottish Labour was facing its “worst ever crisis”. Referencing claims her rivals were trying to keep her off the ballot, she said members needed a “real choice” and spoke of “dirty tricks and smears”. She also said Labour is in a “coma” and said the party must “stop sleepwalking into electoral oblivion”.
Fagan, the former leader of South Lanarkshire council, said Scottish Labour has to “change”, adding that May’s defeat was painful. He also flagged up his experience as a former council leader who had made “real decisions”. Fagan also said the Scottish Parliament had been “distant” from voters and said Labour had to be rebuilt as a party of “working people”.
Policy positions
On policy, Fagan and Marra backed more drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea, while Lennon spoke of the country’s “climate obligations”. The trio also broadly agreed on opposing austerity, respecting local government, building more council homes and giving party members a greater say.
