Scottish Labour is facing an existential crisis, according to Gary Smith, secretary of GMB Scotland, as rebels table a no-confidence vote in leader Richard Leonard. Smith warned that the party's plummeting popularity, with polls as low as 14%, raises profound questions about Labour's future at UK level.
The GMB, which financed Leonard's 2017 leadership campaign with £12,000 and a free phone bank, will not intervene on his behalf. Smith indicated that most GMB members now vote for the Scottish National Party, stating, 'The truth is Scottish Labour’s problems run far deeper than one individual.'
Rebels, led by James Kelly, have tabled a confidence motion for Saturday's Scottish executive committee (SEC) meeting, signed by a third of its 32 members. They hope to force Leonard's resignation or trigger a leadership contest, but Leonard has resisted, accusing them of factional warfare.
Leonard's critics argue that the party's collapse threatens Sir Keir Starmer's chances of winning a UK general election, as Labour must win back significant seats in Scotland. They also warn that donors may withhold funding for the Holyrood election campaign if Leonard remains leader.
Despite the rebellion, Leonard has public backing from Unite, Unison, and former MEP David Martin. The no-confidence vote is expected to be extremely close, with unions holding multiple votes on the SEC.
