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Scottish Labour to unveil new leader | Scottish Labour to unveil new leader |
(5 months later) | |
Scottish Labour is announcing its new leader, with former UK cabinet minister Jim Murphy the perceived frontrunner to win the contest. | Scottish Labour is announcing its new leader, with former UK cabinet minister Jim Murphy the perceived frontrunner to win the contest. |
The MP and former Scottish secretary is standing against MSPs Neil Findlay and Sarah Boyack. | The MP and former Scottish secretary is standing against MSPs Neil Findlay and Sarah Boyack. |
Johann Lamont quit the leadership in October, accusing Westminster colleagues of treating Labour in Scotland like a "branch office". | Johann Lamont quit the leadership in October, accusing Westminster colleagues of treating Labour in Scotland like a "branch office". |
Scottish Labour will also name a new elected deputy leader. | Scottish Labour will also name a new elected deputy leader. |
The party uses an electoral college to decide the victor. | The party uses an electoral college to decide the victor. |
Party members and Scottish Labour MPs, MEPs and MSPs each get a say in electing their new leader, as well as unions and affiliated organisations. | Party members and Scottish Labour MPs, MEPs and MSPs each get a say in electing their new leader, as well as unions and affiliated organisations. |
Mr Murphy, who served in Gordon Brown's cabinet, has won more support from declared elected Labour members and local parties than his nearest rival, Mr Findlay. | Mr Murphy, who served in Gordon Brown's cabinet, has won more support from declared elected Labour members and local parties than his nearest rival, Mr Findlay. |
However, the left-wing MSP has won significant backing from unions, meaning ordinary party members may have the decisive say on who wins the race to lead Scottish Labour. | However, the left-wing MSP has won significant backing from unions, meaning ordinary party members may have the decisive say on who wins the race to lead Scottish Labour. |
ANALYSIS | |
By Andrew Black, BBC Scotland political reporter | |
Unless there's any kind of shock upset, it looks likely Jim Murphy will today become Scottish Labour's new leader. | |
The East Renfrewshire MP has been the perceived frontrunner all along and he's regarded by key figures in the party as the best - and perhaps only - hope of making Scottish Labour winners once again. | |
But, among those who get a say, support for his elevation to the leadership is by no means universal. | |
Under Scottish Labour's complicated three-part electoral college, Mr Murphy has been strongly backed by parliamentarians (MPs, MSPs and MEPS), who get a third of the vote. | |
But the majority of unions - whose members' votes also account for a third - have thrown their support behind his nearest rival, left-winger Neil Findlay. | |
So it looks like a decisive say may go to the final third - ordinary party members. The Murphy camp is confident in this regard, given he's been backed by more than 30 Constituency Labour Party branches. | |
If he wins, Mr Murphy's first challenge - before he can think about policies, manifestos and elections - is the state of Scottish Labour itself. | |
After his leadership predecessor Johann Lamont claimed Scottish Labour was treated like a "branch office" by Westminster colleagues, Mr Murphy has pledged to unite the party and ensure it makes all its own decisions in future. | |
And if Mr Murphy wants to realise the dream of becoming Scottish first minister, he'll have to outline his plan for winning a Scottish Parliament seat in the 2016 election, if not before. | |
It might all seem like a tall order, but it would be a journey not dissimilar to the one taken by Alex Salmond. | |
Ten years ago, he became leader of a demoralised SNP, made the switch from Westminster to Holyrood by winning a Liberal Democrat seat, and became Scotland's longest-serving FM. | |
Mr Murphy, who quit as shadow international development secretary to stand for leader, has insisted that, under his watch, Scottish Labour would make all its own decisions. | Mr Murphy, who quit as shadow international development secretary to stand for leader, has insisted that, under his watch, Scottish Labour would make all its own decisions. |
The East Renfrewshire MP, who said he wanted to become Scottish first minister in the 2016 election, would also need to win a Scottish Parliament seat if elected leader. | The East Renfrewshire MP, who said he wanted to become Scottish first minister in the 2016 election, would also need to win a Scottish Parliament seat if elected leader. |
Mr Murphy, seen as being on the political right of the Labour Party, has backed plans for a 50p tax rate for high earners, as has Mr Findlay. | Mr Murphy, seen as being on the political right of the Labour Party, has backed plans for a 50p tax rate for high earners, as has Mr Findlay. |
Mr Findlay, who is Scottish Labour's health spokesman, entered the leadership contest after former prime minister Gordon Brown ruled himself out of standing. | Mr Findlay, who is Scottish Labour's health spokesman, entered the leadership contest after former prime minister Gordon Brown ruled himself out of standing. |
The Lothian MSP pledged to put strategy to end poverty and youth unemployment would be at the heart of Scottish Labour's 2016 election manifesto. | The Lothian MSP pledged to put strategy to end poverty and youth unemployment would be at the heart of Scottish Labour's 2016 election manifesto. |
Ms Boyack, a former Scottish minister who was the first to announce she was standing for Scottish Labour leader, vowed to tackle "under-funding" in the NHS and local government, if she became leader. | Ms Boyack, a former Scottish minister who was the first to announce she was standing for Scottish Labour leader, vowed to tackle "under-funding" in the NHS and local government, if she became leader. |
The result of the contest to replace MP Anas Sarwar as deputy Scottish Labour leader is also being announced. | The result of the contest to replace MP Anas Sarwar as deputy Scottish Labour leader is also being announced. |
The two contenders for the job are MSP Kezia Dugdale and MP Katy Clark. | The two contenders for the job are MSP Kezia Dugdale and MP Katy Clark. |
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