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| Scottish Labour leadership: MP Jim Murphy sets sights on FM role | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| MP Jim Murphy has told the BBC he wants to be Scottish Labour leader and first minister of Scotland. | |
| The East Renfrewshire politician was speaking shortly after confirming he would contest the party post vacated suddenly by Johann Lamont. | |
| Mr Murphy said there was "so much that has to change" about both Scottish Labour and Scotland. | |
| He joins the leadership race alongside Lothian regional MSPs, Neil Findlay and Sarah Boyack. | |
| Mr Murphy said his intention was to unite the party and come up with a "Labour answer to Scotland's problems". | |
| The shadow international development minister said: "I'm standing not just to be the Scottish Labour leader, which would be a privilege in itself, but I am standing to be our candidate to be first minister." | The shadow international development minister said: "I'm standing not just to be the Scottish Labour leader, which would be a privilege in itself, but I am standing to be our candidate to be first minister." |
| This would mean Mr Murphy standing for the Scottish Parliament in, or even before, the 2016 Holyrood elections. It would also require Labour to overturn the SNP's current majority at Holyrood and then form either a Labour government or Labour led coalition. | This would mean Mr Murphy standing for the Scottish Parliament in, or even before, the 2016 Holyrood elections. It would also require Labour to overturn the SNP's current majority at Holyrood and then form either a Labour government or Labour led coalition. |
| Steps to becoming Scottish Labour leader | Steps to becoming Scottish Labour leader |
| Prof John Curtice looks at how to get to the top in Scottish Labour. | Prof John Curtice looks at how to get to the top in Scottish Labour. |
| Nominations officially close on 4 November and candidates need the support of at least one eighth of Scottish Labour parliamentarians. | Nominations officially close on 4 November and candidates need the support of at least one eighth of Scottish Labour parliamentarians. |
| The ballot is conducted through the Labour electoral college - made up of parliamentarians, party members and affiliated organisations, mainly unions. | The ballot is conducted through the Labour electoral college - made up of parliamentarians, party members and affiliated organisations, mainly unions. |
| If the new Labour leader in Scotland is an MP they will have to stand for the Scottish Parliament in order to become first minister. | If the new Labour leader in Scotland is an MP they will have to stand for the Scottish Parliament in order to become first minister. |
| Mr Murphy added: "All of that energy the we had in the referendum, all of that passion, all that determination, that can't just go away. | Mr Murphy added: "All of that energy the we had in the referendum, all of that passion, all that determination, that can't just go away. |
| "We should bring all of that together, bottle it and use that energy from the referendum to try to solve some of the problems that we do have in Scotland - health inequality, the problems in housing, how do we improve our schools, how do we make sure that young people get a chance to have a job but also a career." | "We should bring all of that together, bottle it and use that energy from the referendum to try to solve some of the problems that we do have in Scotland - health inequality, the problems in housing, how do we improve our schools, how do we make sure that young people get a chance to have a job but also a career." |
| The leadership contest was sparked when Johann Lamont resigned on Friday evening after three years in the job. | The leadership contest was sparked when Johann Lamont resigned on Friday evening after three years in the job. |
| She cited interference by Labour figures in London as being part of her reason for going, alleging that Labour in Scotland was treated as a "branch office". | She cited interference by Labour figures in London as being part of her reason for going, alleging that Labour in Scotland was treated as a "branch office". |
| Mr Murphy said he did not believe this was the case, adding: "I want to devolve and have a more autonomous Scottish Labour party. | Mr Murphy said he did not believe this was the case, adding: "I want to devolve and have a more autonomous Scottish Labour party. |
| "I am very clear after the controversy we have had in the last few weeks that if I am the Scottish Labour party leader I will hire and fire whoever I want in our team. I'm big enough, I'm ugly enough, I've been around long enough, I've got sharp enough elbows, no-one will tell me what to do if I'm Scottish Labour Party leader." | "I am very clear after the controversy we have had in the last few weeks that if I am the Scottish Labour party leader I will hire and fire whoever I want in our team. I'm big enough, I'm ugly enough, I've been around long enough, I've got sharp enough elbows, no-one will tell me what to do if I'm Scottish Labour Party leader." |
| When asked if that included UK Labour leader Ed Miliband, Mr Murphy responded: "Scottish Labour Party decisions will be made in Scotland. The Scottish Labour Party of course can take a different policy direction from the rest of the UK Labour Party. We already do so in so many different ways, that is the nature of devolution. | When asked if that included UK Labour leader Ed Miliband, Mr Murphy responded: "Scottish Labour Party decisions will be made in Scotland. The Scottish Labour Party of course can take a different policy direction from the rest of the UK Labour Party. We already do so in so many different ways, that is the nature of devolution. |
| "I will come up with a Labour answer to Scotland's problems - I think that is what Scotland needs." | "I will come up with a Labour answer to Scotland's problems - I think that is what Scotland needs." |
| Mr Murphy is seen as being on the political right of the Labour Party, having been a supporter of Tony Blair, the Iraq war and university tuition fees. | Mr Murphy is seen as being on the political right of the Labour Party, having been a supporter of Tony Blair, the Iraq war and university tuition fees. |
| But he insisted: "I am not interested in left wing Labour or right wing Labour, old Labour or new Labour. I am interested in losing Labour. I want to end that period of losing Labour here in Scotland, starting with the UK general election in 2015." | But he insisted: "I am not interested in left wing Labour or right wing Labour, old Labour or new Labour. I am interested in losing Labour. I want to end that period of losing Labour here in Scotland, starting with the UK general election in 2015." |
| On Thursday, MSP Neil Findlay became the second candidate to join the race to be leader of Scottish Labour. | On Thursday, MSP Neil Findlay became the second candidate to join the race to be leader of Scottish Labour. |
| The party's health spokesman at Holyrood said he wanted progressive change and to create a fairer, more equal and prosperous Scotland. | The party's health spokesman at Holyrood said he wanted progressive change and to create a fairer, more equal and prosperous Scotland. |
| The first to declare an interest was former environment minister and Lothian MSP Sarah Boyack. | The first to declare an interest was former environment minister and Lothian MSP Sarah Boyack. |
| Earlier in the week, Mr Findlay, who is viewed as being on the left of the party, had urged former Prime Minister Gordon Brown to stand for the post. | Earlier in the week, Mr Findlay, who is viewed as being on the left of the party, had urged former Prime Minister Gordon Brown to stand for the post. |
| However, the Fife MP has ruled himself out of contention. | However, the Fife MP has ruled himself out of contention. |
| Announcing his intention to stand, Mr Findlay said: "I have been overwhelmed by the messages of support from people from within the Labour Party and across the wider Labour movement all urging me to stand. | Announcing his intention to stand, Mr Findlay said: "I have been overwhelmed by the messages of support from people from within the Labour Party and across the wider Labour movement all urging me to stand. |
| "It is no secret that I wanted Gordon Brown to run but since Gordon has ruled himself out I now believe we need to have a wide-ranging debate about the way forward for the Labour Party, but more importantly the country." | "It is no secret that I wanted Gordon Brown to run but since Gordon has ruled himself out I now believe we need to have a wide-ranging debate about the way forward for the Labour Party, but more importantly the country." |
| The Lothians list MSP added: "I want to bring the Labour Party together to work for progressive change and create a fairer, more equal and prosperous Scotland. | The Lothians list MSP added: "I want to bring the Labour Party together to work for progressive change and create a fairer, more equal and prosperous Scotland. |
| "If elected Labour leader I will put the issue of social justice at heart of everything we do - this is the historic mission of the Scottish Labour Party but it also has to be about what we deliver for the Scottish people in this post-referendum period." | "If elected Labour leader I will put the issue of social justice at heart of everything we do - this is the historic mission of the Scottish Labour Party but it also has to be about what we deliver for the Scottish people in this post-referendum period." |
| Mr Findlay's opponent, Ms Boyack has also spoken about her reasons for standing. | Mr Findlay's opponent, Ms Boyack has also spoken about her reasons for standing. |
| She said that as a member of first minister Donald Dewar's 1999 Holyrood cabinet and as a member of Labour's Devolution Commission, she had the "experience to lead". | She said that as a member of first minister Donald Dewar's 1999 Holyrood cabinet and as a member of Labour's Devolution Commission, she had the "experience to lead". |
| Ms Boyack added: "This leadership election is our chance to debate how we move our party forward. | Ms Boyack added: "This leadership election is our chance to debate how we move our party forward. |
| "We need to reach out not just to those who have traditionally supported us but to build a coalition to tackle social and environmental injustice and to create a more equal, prosperous economy that works for people. | "We need to reach out not just to those who have traditionally supported us but to build a coalition to tackle social and environmental injustice and to create a more equal, prosperous economy that works for people. |
| "The referendum mobilised people to get involved in the debate about our future and we need to build on that energy. | "The referendum mobilised people to get involved in the debate about our future and we need to build on that energy. |
| "Across the country there were thousands of meetings bringing people together to discuss how we could improve people's lives. | "Across the country there were thousands of meetings bringing people together to discuss how we could improve people's lives. |
| "To deliver on those ambitions we need to move the political debate on to how we use power." | "To deliver on those ambitions we need to move the political debate on to how we use power." |