Scottish Labour has an opportunity to reflect on 'deeper political questions' about how it operates after its loss in May's election and the loss of its leader to the House of Lords, the Scottish Secretary has said.
Just months after falling to just 17 seats at Holyrood, former Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar opted for a seat in the Lords and a junior ministerial job in Andy Burnham's Government, sparking a leadership contest north of the border.
Party to consider 'very searching questions'
As the party begins its search for a new leader, Douglas Alexander, who was the co-chair of the May election campaign, said there are 'very searching questions' which need to be asked.
'You're right to recognise it was a disappointing result back in May, but we've actually seen our vote share and our number of MSPs fall repeatedly since 1999,' he told BBC Radio Scotland on Friday.
'Alas, that was consistent with the trend, rather than what we all hoped, which was bucking a trend that's really been in place since back in 1999.'
'So, of course there are lessons that can and should be learned, no doubt, about the campaign.'
'But I think it's also an opportunity now to reflect on some deeper political questions about Scottish Labour's place within devolved Scotland, how we are more effective in winning the support of the Scottish people in Holyrood.'
Leadership contest yet to begin
He added: 'No one is absolving any of us of the collective responsibility of both figuring out how we step back and come back from what was a tough set of results.'
'But we've done that before and very few people thought we would be able to see 37 Scottish Labour MPs elected and we played a big role in making sure that we banished the Tories after those 14 years and got Labour back into power.'
'So we need to do that same kind of thinking again.'
Anas Sarwar stood down as Scottish Labour leader this week after being appointed to the Lords and as a minister.
The party's reflection will likely come in the midst of a push to replace Mr Sarwar, whose decision angered some in Scottish Labour just weeks after he pledged to serve the remainder of the Holyrood term as leader and months after he laughed off the suggestion of a peerage.
Former MSP Monica Lennon, who will take Mr Sarwar's Glasgow seat when the Scottish Parliament returns from recess, and current MSP Michael Marra have signalled they are considering a tilt at the top job, but the party's ruling body is yet to set out a timetable for the contest.
