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Scottish Labour leadership: Sarwar resignation sparks double contest | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Scottish Labour is seeking both a new leader and a new deputy leader following the resignation of Anas Sarwar. | Scottish Labour is seeking both a new leader and a new deputy leader following the resignation of Anas Sarwar. |
The Glasgow Central MP announced on Thursday evening he was standing down from his role as depute. | |
He is currently interim leader of the party following Johann Lamont's departure and will remain in that role until her replacement is announced. | |
Contests for the leadership and deputy leadership will run concurrently. | Contests for the leadership and deputy leadership will run concurrently. |
Ms Lamont quit last Friday, and accused Labour's UK leadership of treating Scotland like a branch office. | Ms Lamont quit last Friday, and accused Labour's UK leadership of treating Scotland like a branch office. |
Mr Sarwar's resignation came after fellow MP Jim Murphy announced he was entering the leadership race against Lothian MSPs Neil Findlay and Sarah Boyack. | Mr Sarwar's resignation came after fellow MP Jim Murphy announced he was entering the leadership race against Lothian MSPs Neil Findlay and Sarah Boyack. |
If Mr Murphy were elected and Mr Sarwar remained deputy leader it would leave the Scottish Labour Party without a leader at Holyrood. | If Mr Murphy were elected and Mr Sarwar remained deputy leader it would leave the Scottish Labour Party without a leader at Holyrood. |
The Glasgow Central MP said: "I have come to a decision I believe is in the best interest of the Scottish Labour Party. | The Glasgow Central MP said: "I have come to a decision I believe is in the best interest of the Scottish Labour Party. |
"It's my intention to hand over the leadership to a new team on 13 December. | "It's my intention to hand over the leadership to a new team on 13 December. |
"I think it's also right that we have a concurrent leadership and deputy leadership election. | "I think it's also right that we have a concurrent leadership and deputy leadership election. |
"This will allow a Scottish Labour party, its members and affiliates the opportunity to not only elect a leader, but a new leadership team focussed on winning in 2016." | "This will allow a Scottish Labour party, its members and affiliates the opportunity to not only elect a leader, but a new leadership team focussed on winning in 2016." |
Lothians MSP Kezia Dugdale and North East Scotland MSP Jenny Marra could be possible candidates to succeed Mr Sarwar as deputy leader. | Lothians MSP Kezia Dugdale and North East Scotland MSP Jenny Marra could be possible candidates to succeed Mr Sarwar as deputy leader. |
Labour leader Ed Miliband was in Scotland on Thursday evening to attend a party function in Glasgow. | Labour leader Ed Miliband was in Scotland on Thursday evening to attend a party function in Glasgow. |
In an interview with the BBC he admitted Labour faced a "big challenge" in Scotland and he said he would work closely with whoever was elected as the new Scottish leader. | |
His visit coincided with two opinion polls which indicated a dramatic fall in Labour's Scottish support. | His visit coincided with two opinion polls which indicated a dramatic fall in Labour's Scottish support. |
The polls, by Ipsos/Mori for STV and by YouGov for The Times, suggested the SNP could have many more MPs in Scotland than Labour after the general election. | The polls, by Ipsos/Mori for STV and by YouGov for The Times, suggested the SNP could have many more MPs in Scotland than Labour after the general election. |
Mr Miliband said: "I'm going to work with whoever is elected as the new leader in Scotland and I will look forward to working with them. | Mr Miliband said: "I'm going to work with whoever is elected as the new leader in Scotland and I will look forward to working with them. |
"We face big challenges to show how we can change Scotland, how we can change it economically, how we can change it so there are stronger powers for the Scottish Parliament." | "We face big challenges to show how we can change Scotland, how we can change it economically, how we can change it so there are stronger powers for the Scottish Parliament." |