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Scottish Labour faces being wiped out by SNP at general election, poll shows Labour faces massive losses to SNP at UK general election, poll shows
(about 3 hours later)
Jim Murphy, the clear favourite to become the next Scottish Labour leader, has accused his party of lacking passion and vision as a shock poll showed Labour faces being wiped out by the Scottish National party at the general election. Jim Murphy, the clear favourite to become the next Scottish Labour leader, has accused his party of lacking passion and vision as a shock poll showed Labour faces being almost wiped out by the Scottish National party at the general election.
As he confirmed he would contest the leadership, the former Scottish secretary said he wanted the Scottish Labour party to “end its losing streak”, saying: “We’ve lost too many elections north of the border and I want to bring that to an end.”As he confirmed he would contest the leadership, the former Scottish secretary said he wanted the Scottish Labour party to “end its losing streak”, saying: “We’ve lost too many elections north of the border and I want to bring that to an end.”
His remarks came as a new poll by Ipsos Mori for STV showed that a record 52% of Scottish voters would vote SNP if there were an immediate general election, implying the SNP would win 54 Westminster seats – a nine-fold increase on the six seats it currently holds. His remarks came as a new poll by Ipsos Mori for STV showed that a record 52% of Scottish voters would vote SNP if there were an immediate general election, implying the SNP would win 54 Westminster seats – a nine-fold increase on the six seats it currently holds – leaving Labour with just four.
Carried out in part after Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont’s sudden resignation last Friday, the poll put Labour at just 23% – its lowest figure in over six years, with the Tories cut to 10% and the Lib Dems down to 6%, tying with the Scottish Green party.Carried out in part after Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont’s sudden resignation last Friday, the poll put Labour at just 23% – its lowest figure in over six years, with the Tories cut to 10% and the Lib Dems down to 6%, tying with the Scottish Green party.
The poll will deeply alarm Ed Miliband, the UK Labour leader, who arrived in Glasgow on Thursday for the Scottish party’s annual fundraising dinner, which comes during its most bruising period since Alex Salmond’s landslide Holyrood election victory in 2011.The poll will deeply alarm Ed Miliband, the UK Labour leader, who arrived in Glasgow on Thursday for the Scottish party’s annual fundraising dinner, which comes during its most bruising period since Alex Salmond’s landslide Holyrood election victory in 2011.
Losing scores of crucial Scottish Labour seats would be a potentially fatal blow to Miliband’s hopes of winning an overall majority at Westminster, with polls suggesting Labour and the Tories are neck and neck.Losing scores of crucial Scottish Labour seats would be a potentially fatal blow to Miliband’s hopes of winning an overall majority at Westminster, with polls suggesting Labour and the Tories are neck and neck.
Speaking before he arrived in Glasgow, Miliband admitted that he knew Labour had to “reach out to Scotland” and ask the hundreds of thousands of Labour voters who backed independence to “come home”.Speaking before he arrived in Glasgow, Miliband admitted that he knew Labour had to “reach out to Scotland” and ask the hundreds of thousands of Labour voters who backed independence to “come home”.
He told the Daily Record that the leadership election was Labour’s chance to renew itself: “It is Labour’s mission to show the people of Scotland in the next seven months that we can be that change,” he said.He told the Daily Record that the leadership election was Labour’s chance to renew itself: “It is Labour’s mission to show the people of Scotland in the next seven months that we can be that change,” he said.
The poll implies that Scottish voters have been deeply disillusioned with Labour, only a month after the party successfully spearheaded the no campaign’s victory in the Scottish independence referendum.The poll implies that Scottish voters have been deeply disillusioned with Labour, only a month after the party successfully spearheaded the no campaign’s victory in the Scottish independence referendum.
Senior Labour MPs privately blame Lamont for showing poor, lacklustre leadership both during and immediately after the referendum, failing to capitalise on the no camp’s victory and allowing the SNP to seize the agenda.Senior Labour MPs privately blame Lamont for showing poor, lacklustre leadership both during and immediately after the referendum, failing to capitalise on the no camp’s victory and allowing the SNP to seize the agenda.
Murphy, during a round of interviews to announce his candidacy, told Sky News Labour was guilty of underperforming and it “had to change”. He added: “The Labour party hasn’t been passionate enough in recent times. It has occasionally been divided. I want to end that period of Scottish Labour party self-harm when we turn in on ourselves.”Murphy, during a round of interviews to announce his candidacy, told Sky News Labour was guilty of underperforming and it “had to change”. He added: “The Labour party hasn’t been passionate enough in recent times. It has occasionally been divided. I want to end that period of Scottish Labour party self-harm when we turn in on ourselves.”
If he won the leadership contest, where he faces competition from Holyrood shadow ministers Sarah Boyack and Neil Findlay, he said he would urge voters to “take a fresh look at us. We will have that energy, we will have that passion”.If he won the leadership contest, where he faces competition from Holyrood shadow ministers Sarah Boyack and Neil Findlay, he said he would urge voters to “take a fresh look at us. We will have that energy, we will have that passion”.
“We know we make mistakes. We know we’re not going to repeat them. We’re going to stand with that sense of pride and passion and we’re going to change our party and bring our country back together.”“We know we make mistakes. We know we’re not going to repeat them. We’re going to stand with that sense of pride and passion and we’re going to change our party and bring our country back together.”
Murphy, currently shadow international development secretary at Westminster, told the Guardian he also wanted the Scottish party to be given far more operational and political autonomy from the UK party – signalling he expects Miliband to allow him far freer rein to set policy.Murphy, currently shadow international development secretary at Westminster, told the Guardian he also wanted the Scottish party to be given far more operational and political autonomy from the UK party – signalling he expects Miliband to allow him far freer rein to set policy.
It is understood Murphy wants the Scottish party to have greater freedom to raise and spend its own money, attracting its own donors: its budget is currently controlled and set at London HQ. Murphy and Miliband spoke earlier this week, before he finally confirmed his leadership bid.It is understood Murphy wants the Scottish party to have greater freedom to raise and spend its own money, attracting its own donors: its budget is currently controlled and set at London HQ. Murphy and Miliband spoke earlier this week, before he finally confirmed his leadership bid.
He wanted to see “more devolution firstly for the Scottish party, more autonomy for the Scottish party, raising more of its own money, paying more of its own bills and taking greater responsibility”.He wanted to see “more devolution firstly for the Scottish party, more autonomy for the Scottish party, raising more of its own money, paying more of its own bills and taking greater responsibility”.
The MP for East Renfrewshire for 17 years, Murphy is also under pressure to quickly resign from the Commons and find a safe Holyrood seat to allow him to lead from within the Scottish parliament.The MP for East Renfrewshire for 17 years, Murphy is also under pressure to quickly resign from the Commons and find a safe Holyrood seat to allow him to lead from within the Scottish parliament.
Some senior colleagues believe that a Labour MSP who plans to retire in May 2016 from a safe Labour seat could be persuaded to stand down earlier and allow a byelection to take place on the same day as the general election in 2015.Some senior colleagues believe that a Labour MSP who plans to retire in May 2016 from a safe Labour seat could be persuaded to stand down earlier and allow a byelection to take place on the same day as the general election in 2015.
Murphy confirmed he wanted to stand for Holyrood “at the latest, or hopefully sooner”, but insisted he had not identified any seats or was pushing for a byelection. “I’m going to do these things one contest at a time,” he told the Guardian.Murphy confirmed he wanted to stand for Holyrood “at the latest, or hopefully sooner”, but insisted he had not identified any seats or was pushing for a byelection. “I’m going to do these things one contest at a time,” he told the Guardian.
“I think it would be arrogant on the first day of a leadership contest in which there are three candidates for me to start picking and choosing Scottish parliamentary constituencies to go and stand in.”“I think it would be arrogant on the first day of a leadership contest in which there are three candidates for me to start picking and choosing Scottish parliamentary constituencies to go and stand in.”