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| Jim Murphy hopes to become first minister of Scotland | Jim Murphy hopes to become first minister of Scotland |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Jim Murphy, Labour’s shadow international development secretary, has confirmed he will leave Westminster for the Scottish parliament if he wins the contest to become Scottish Labour leader. | Jim Murphy, Labour’s shadow international development secretary, has confirmed he will leave Westminster for the Scottish parliament if he wins the contest to become Scottish Labour leader. |
| Murphy will stand to replace Johann Lamont after her shock resignation last week, and would take up a Holyrood seat, giving up his Westminster seat in East Renfrewshire. | |
| In an interview with the Daily Record, Murphy said: “I am very clear that the job I’m applying for is to be first minister of Scotland.” | In an interview with the Daily Record, Murphy said: “I am very clear that the job I’m applying for is to be first minister of Scotland.” |
| Labour’s Scottish secretary during Gordon Brown’s government, Murphy is the third candidate to stand to succeed Lamont after two centre-left MSPs, Sarah Boyack and Neil Findlay, announced they were to stand. | Labour’s Scottish secretary during Gordon Brown’s government, Murphy is the third candidate to stand to succeed Lamont after two centre-left MSPs, Sarah Boyack and Neil Findlay, announced they were to stand. |
| Murphy has yet to confirm when and where he might stand for Holyrood, but will face pressure from within the party and from his opponents to do so quickly, rather than wait until the Scottish parliament election in May 2016. | Murphy has yet to confirm when and where he might stand for Holyrood, but will face pressure from within the party and from his opponents to do so quickly, rather than wait until the Scottish parliament election in May 2016. |
| Senior Scottish MPs believe Murphy could find an MSP already due to retire to stand down to allow a Holyrood byelection to take place at the general election this coming May, allowing Murphy to quickly assert control over the Holyrood party. | Senior Scottish MPs believe Murphy could find an MSP already due to retire to stand down to allow a Holyrood byelection to take place at the general election this coming May, allowing Murphy to quickly assert control over the Holyrood party. |
| It is thought he will postpone that discussion and final decision until after the leadership vote, which will be announced on 13 December. | It is thought he will postpone that discussion and final decision until after the leadership vote, which will be announced on 13 December. |
| Senior Labour MSPs also want Murphy to accept that Holyrood needs stronger tax powers than the limited income tax powers set out by Scottish Labour. That would put him in direct conflict with Ed Balls, the shadow chancellor, who is vigorously resisting Tory and Lib Dem proposals for Holyrood to have 100% control over income tax. | Senior Labour MSPs also want Murphy to accept that Holyrood needs stronger tax powers than the limited income tax powers set out by Scottish Labour. That would put him in direct conflict with Ed Balls, the shadow chancellor, who is vigorously resisting Tory and Lib Dem proposals for Holyrood to have 100% control over income tax. |
| His announcement came as Ed Miliband, the UK Labour leader, prepared for his first trip to Scotland after the independence referendum to address a gala fundraising dinner in Glasgow on Thursday evening. | His announcement came as Ed Miliband, the UK Labour leader, prepared for his first trip to Scotland after the independence referendum to address a gala fundraising dinner in Glasgow on Thursday evening. |
| Miliband has been badly bruised by direct attacks from Lamont when she resigned, for allegedly treating the Scottish party as a “branch office” and allowing the party’s Westminster “dinosaurs” to dictate Scottish policy, stifling demand in the party for greater devolution. | Miliband has been badly bruised by direct attacks from Lamont when she resigned, for allegedly treating the Scottish party as a “branch office” and allowing the party’s Westminster “dinosaurs” to dictate Scottish policy, stifling demand in the party for greater devolution. |
| Miliband is thought to back privately Murphy’s candidacy despite strong speculation the two men did not get on: Murphy, a Blairite who was moved from his shadow foreign secretary role to international development in an apparent demotion by Miliband. | Miliband is thought to back privately Murphy’s candidacy despite strong speculation the two men did not get on: Murphy, a Blairite who was moved from his shadow foreign secretary role to international development in an apparent demotion by Miliband. |
| However Murphy is clear favourite to win, despite likely opposition from many trade union leaders, after he staged a high profile “100 towns in 100 days” anti-independence tour during the referendum campaign. Enduring mounting abuse from yes campaigners at his street rallies, he was hit by eggs in Kirkcaldy. | However Murphy is clear favourite to win, despite likely opposition from many trade union leaders, after he staged a high profile “100 towns in 100 days” anti-independence tour during the referendum campaign. Enduring mounting abuse from yes campaigners at his street rallies, he was hit by eggs in Kirkcaldy. |
| The East Renfrewshire MP told the Record he wanted more autonomy for the Scottish party from Westminster, in a coded warning to Miliband. | The East Renfrewshire MP told the Record he wanted more autonomy for the Scottish party from Westminster, in a coded warning to Miliband. |
| Asked about the controversy over the UK party’s control over the Scottish party – which included the sacking last week of Scottish party general secretary Ian Price without Lamont’s agreement – Murphy said: “I am going to to into this in a lot more detail during the contest. | Asked about the controversy over the UK party’s control over the Scottish party – which included the sacking last week of Scottish party general secretary Ian Price without Lamont’s agreement – Murphy said: “I am going to to into this in a lot more detail during the contest. |
| “But I will hire and fire who I want. I am big enough and ugly enough and I am not going to be pushed around by anyone. If I am leader it is not for anyone else, in any other part of the United Kingdom, to tell me who I can employ in the Scottish Labour party. [I] want more autonomy for the Scottish Labour party.” | “But I will hire and fire who I want. I am big enough and ugly enough and I am not going to be pushed around by anyone. If I am leader it is not for anyone else, in any other part of the United Kingdom, to tell me who I can employ in the Scottish Labour party. [I] want more autonomy for the Scottish Labour party.” |
| He added: “I think it is time for a fresh start for the Scottish Labour party,” he said. “I am proud of the Labour party and I am proud of Scotland – but I am not satisfied. | He added: “I think it is time for a fresh start for the Scottish Labour party,” he said. “I am proud of the Labour party and I am proud of Scotland – but I am not satisfied. |
| “I want to strike a tone that stops the Scottish Labour Party from committing self harm. I want to unite the Labour party but, more importantly, I want to bring the country back together after the referendum.” | “I want to strike a tone that stops the Scottish Labour Party from committing self harm. I want to unite the Labour party but, more importantly, I want to bring the country back together after the referendum.” |
| He denied he was leaving Westminster because his career there was stalling. “No. I am standing as an MSP and to be first minister. More power is being transferred to the Scottish parliament. | He denied he was leaving Westminster because his career there was stalling. “No. I am standing as an MSP and to be first minister. More power is being transferred to the Scottish parliament. |
| “The House of Commons will always be important but increasingly Holyrood is where the action is going to be and that is why I am making this move.” | “The House of Commons will always be important but increasingly Holyrood is where the action is going to be and that is why I am making this move.” |