The Scottish Labour leadership contest has descended into a bitter bout of infighting, with allies of the three candidates at each other's throats. The contest, which includes a hustings in Glasgow this evening, is already in the gutter, according to reports.
Michael Marra, the party's finance spokesman, was accused by insiders of wanting to sack party staff and put them on short-term contracts after May's disastrous election. Marra and his supporters have angrily denied the claims.
Personality over substance
This is a contest based on personality, not substance, and Scottish Labour looks like a party that will never be trusted to run Holyrood. Bruised egos are another part of a succession battle that could be run as a show at the Edinburgh Fringe.
Marra wanted a coronation, not a contest, to replace Anas Sarwar as leader. But Team Sarwar, furious at what they regarded as Marra's eagerness for the job, had other ideas.
Nominations battle
Sarwar allies are said to have lowered the bar for MSPs to get on the ballot to ensure one-time foe Monica Lennon became a candidate. Marra's team has mounted a successful operation - so far - to stop her from becoming a candidate by hoovering up nominations.
Sarwar loyalists changed their approach and lined up behind Joe Fagan, who now has a decent chance of winning. The ill-will between the Fagan and Marra camps is extraordinary, even by Scottish Labour standards.
Membership decline
Our story today shows it is not just voters who have turned away from this feuding party. Scottish Labour had over 25,000 members in 2018. The figure is now closer to 11,000.
Senior party figures used to mock the SNP by claiming it was nothing more than a cult. The jibe is more appropriate for Scottish Labour these days.
