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Scottish Labour leadership rivals pledge party reforms | Scottish Labour leadership rivals pledge party reforms |
(about 9 hours later) | |
Candidates in the race to become the new Scottish Labour leader have said future decisions about how the party is run will be made in Scotland. | Candidates in the race to become the new Scottish Labour leader have said future decisions about how the party is run will be made in Scotland. |
MP Jim Murphy said the party must take more responsibility in areas like policy, fundraising and campaigning. | MP Jim Murphy said the party must take more responsibility in areas like policy, fundraising and campaigning. |
Rival Neil Findlay, an MSP, said he would involve all party members and unions to make it more "autonomous". | Rival Neil Findlay, an MSP, said he would involve all party members and unions to make it more "autonomous". |
Johann Lamont quit as Scottish Labour leader last month, hitting out at Westminster colleagues. | Johann Lamont quit as Scottish Labour leader last month, hitting out at Westminster colleagues. |
She accused them of treating the party in Scotland like a "branch office". | She accused them of treating the party in Scotland like a "branch office". |
Mr Murphy, seen as the frontrunner in the contest, said the £155,000 levy currently paid to the UK party by Scottish Labour councillors should stay in Scotland. | Mr Murphy, seen as the frontrunner in the contest, said the £155,000 levy currently paid to the UK party by Scottish Labour councillors should stay in Scotland. |
Ahead of the leadership election result on 13 December, Mr Murphy also pledged to invest at least £5,000 in each Labour-held Scottish and UK parliamentary seat, and in key target constituencies. | Ahead of the leadership election result on 13 December, Mr Murphy also pledged to invest at least £5,000 in each Labour-held Scottish and UK parliamentary seat, and in key target constituencies. |
He also promised a "radical culture change" in the way the party campaigns. | He also promised a "radical culture change" in the way the party campaigns. |
'Unprecedented power' | 'Unprecedented power' |
Mr Murphy, said: "We will always value our links to the UK Labour Party. Only the Labour Party, not the nationalists, can win elections at a UK level. | Mr Murphy, said: "We will always value our links to the UK Labour Party. Only the Labour Party, not the nationalists, can win elections at a UK level. |
"But valuing those links doesn't mean we can't do things our own way. | "But valuing those links doesn't mean we can't do things our own way. |
"People should be in no doubt - if I am elected leader, decisions about policy and how the Scottish Labour Party is run will be taken in Scotland, nowhere else." | "People should be in no doubt - if I am elected leader, decisions about policy and how the Scottish Labour Party is run will be taken in Scotland, nowhere else." |
The shop workers' trade union Usdaw has announced it is backing Mr Murphy's leadership campaign. It is the second trade union to back him, following Community's decision to support him. | |
Mr Findlay, whose leadership campaign has won significant union support - including from Unite, Unison and the Communication Workers' Union - said: "The next leader of the Labour Party in Scotland will have unprecedented powers over the structures and procedures of the party. | |
"If I am elected as leader of the Scottish Labour Party I make this promise to all members of the Labour Party and affiliates, including trade unions, that I will listen and work with them as together we work to make Scottish Labour bigger, better and more autonomous. | "If I am elected as leader of the Scottish Labour Party I make this promise to all members of the Labour Party and affiliates, including trade unions, that I will listen and work with them as together we work to make Scottish Labour bigger, better and more autonomous. |
"A Labour Party has to be collective and co-operative in nature - and under a Neil Findlay leadership , that's what the Scottish Labour Party will be." | "A Labour Party has to be collective and co-operative in nature - and under a Neil Findlay leadership , that's what the Scottish Labour Party will be." |
A third candidate, MSP Sarah Boyack, is also standing to be Scottish Labour leader. | A third candidate, MSP Sarah Boyack, is also standing to be Scottish Labour leader. |
The contest will be decided by a vote involving Scottish Labour parliamentarians, party members and affiliated trade unions and societies. | The contest will be decided by a vote involving Scottish Labour parliamentarians, party members and affiliated trade unions and societies. |
Meanwhile, MP Katy Clarke, who is standing for the also vacant deputy leader post against MSP Kezia Dugdale, said she had won significant union backing. | Meanwhile, MP Katy Clarke, who is standing for the also vacant deputy leader post against MSP Kezia Dugdale, said she had won significant union backing. |
This included support from the Communication Workers' Union, Unite and Unison. | This included support from the Communication Workers' Union, Unite and Unison. |