Scottish Labour leadership candidate Michael Marra has pledged to intervene in a dispute over the selection of a party MSP if he wins the contest. Marra said he would ensure members in Edinburgh receive answers to questions over claims that Irshad Ahmed benefited from a “flood” of new members.
Selection controversy
Ahmed previously stood for the SNP and Alex Salmond’s Alba party, but joined Labour around the time of the 2024 general election. He then secured first place on the Edinburgh and Lothians East regional List, effectively guaranteeing his election to Holyrood. His success stunned observers as he beat established MSPs Daniel Johnson and Martin Whitfield, despite their decades of party service.
Labour insiders said the key factor behind Ahmed’s success was his team’s recruitment of new members. The local party in Edinburgh Southern recently backed a no confidence motion in Scottish Labour general secretary Kate Watson over the row. Local members said they had been snubbed when they asked for basic information, including the voting totals for each of the candidates on the regional List.
Marra's response
At an event in Glasgow, Marra – who is going head-to-head with fellow MSP Joe Fagan – said: “Clearly if concerns have been raised by members they have to be addressed by the party, looked in detail and I am sure there will be a very thorough response.”
Speaking later to the Record, he said: “I am sure they will receive a full explanation or answer to the questions that they have provided. And if they have not by the end of this conclusion, then I’ll make sure that they do.”
Party concerns
The Edinburgh Southern motion stated: “This CLP expresses its deep concern and anger that the General Secretary of the Labour Party in Scotland refuses to answer serious questions put to her officially on behalf of this CLP on 19th March and repeated on 2nd May about the deeply flawed selection process that allowed a candidate to flood his local party with new members and top the list of Labour Candidates in Lothian region, in spite of being a recent strong supporter of the SNP and Alba under not only John Swinney but also Nicola Sturgeon and Alex Salmond and in spite of having no record of non-recent Labour Party membership.
“This CLP deplores the failure of the General Secretary to respond to its legitimate questions, or provide information on 5 key aspects we asked about the selection of this former SNP and Alba activist.”
The issue is sensitive as some Scottish Labour members worry about antagonising Ahmed. Labour are level with Reform on 17 MSPs each and losing an MSP would see the party fall to third place.
