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| Alexander to lead Scottish Labour | Alexander to lead Scottish Labour |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Scottish Labour's leader-in-waiting Wendy Alexander has outlined her plans for taking the party forward. | Scottish Labour's leader-in-waiting Wendy Alexander has outlined her plans for taking the party forward. |
| The Paisley North MSP was confirmed as the sole nominee to succeed former first minister Jack McConnell. | The Paisley North MSP was confirmed as the sole nominee to succeed former first minister Jack McConnell. |
| However, Ms Alexander will not formally take up the post until a series of party meetings are held next month. | However, Ms Alexander will not formally take up the post until a series of party meetings are held next month. |
| In the meantime, the former Holyrood minister will undertake a series of engagements across Scotland before putting forward new policy ideas. | In the meantime, the former Holyrood minister will undertake a series of engagements across Scotland before putting forward new policy ideas. |
| Ms Alexander, who has pledged to reform the party following Labour's election defeat to the SNP in May, is now set to become the Scottish party's first female leader and its fourth since devolution in 1999. | Ms Alexander, who has pledged to reform the party following Labour's election defeat to the SNP in May, is now set to become the Scottish party's first female leader and its fourth since devolution in 1999. |
| I've no doubt we need to reform our party Wendy Alexander MSPScottish Labour Party href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_6950000/newsid_6956800?redirect=6956886.stm&news=1&bbram=1&nbram=1&nbwm=1&bbwm=1" onClick="javascript:newsi.utils.av.launch({el:this});return false;">Press conference | |
| She said her policy reforms would cover four broad areas: a competitive yet compassionate economy; consumer-focused, public services; empowering people and communities; and developing "Scottish solutions for Scottish aspirations". | She said her policy reforms would cover four broad areas: a competitive yet compassionate economy; consumer-focused, public services; empowering people and communities; and developing "Scottish solutions for Scottish aspirations". |
| Ms Alexander received 41 nominations to stand - almost a clean sweep of Labour's entire Scottish Parliament compliment of 46 MSPs. | Ms Alexander received 41 nominations to stand - almost a clean sweep of Labour's entire Scottish Parliament compliment of 46 MSPs. |
| A group of left-wing Labour MSPs, known as the Campaign for Socialism, failed to raise the six nominees needed to put forward a challenger. | A group of left-wing Labour MSPs, known as the Campaign for Socialism, failed to raise the six nominees needed to put forward a challenger. |
| Ms Alexander told a press conference in Stirling: "When I put my name forward to succeed Jack McConnell, I said we needed a period of reflection during which we could reform our party, renew our policies and reconnect with the people of Scotland. | Ms Alexander told a press conference in Stirling: "When I put my name forward to succeed Jack McConnell, I said we needed a period of reflection during which we could reform our party, renew our policies and reconnect with the people of Scotland. |
| "It's important to me that Labour is seen as a party for all of Scotland, and by taking the time to visit all the regions and listening to their views, we can start to put together a new policy portfolio that will speak for all of our country, not just one part of it." | "It's important to me that Labour is seen as a party for all of Scotland, and by taking the time to visit all the regions and listening to their views, we can start to put together a new policy portfolio that will speak for all of our country, not just one part of it." |
| She added: "I've no doubt we need to reform our party to build an organisation that will bring forward policies in tune with the ambitions and demands of the people of Scotland." | She added: "I've no doubt we need to reform our party to build an organisation that will bring forward policies in tune with the ambitions and demands of the people of Scotland." |