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Jim Murphy MP named Scottish Labour leader Jim Murphy MP named Scottish Labour leader
(35 minutes later)
Former Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy has been elected as the new leader of Scottish Labour. Former UK cabinet minister Jim Murphy has been elected Scottish Labour leader, declaring it his "driving purpose" to end poverty and inequality.
The MP beat competition from MSPs Neil Findlay and Sarah Boyack for the job. The MP, who stood against MSPs Neil Findlay and Sarah Boyack, also reached out to independence supporters to back his party's vision.
Johann Lamont quit the leadership in October, accusing Westminster colleagues of treating Labour in Scotland like a "branch office". His leadership predecessor Johann Lamont quit the job after nearly three years in the post.
MSP Kezia Dugdale was elected the party's new deputy leader, replacing MP Anas Sarwar, who also stood down. Meanwhile, MSP Kezia Dugdale has been elected the party's new deputy leader.
Mr Murphy, who won the contest with 55.77% of the vote under the party's electoral college system, said: "Today is a fulfilment of a dream for me." UK Labour leader Ed Miliband and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon both congratulated the new leadership team.
Speaking in Glasgow, the East Renfrewshire MP said: "This is a fresh start for the Scottish Labour Party. Mr Murphy, won the contest with 55.77% of the vote under the party's electoral college system.
"Scotland is changing and so too is Scottish Labour. It came about because Ms Lamont quit the role in October, accusing her Westminster colleagues of treating Labour in Scotland like a "branch office".
"I'm ambitious for our party because I'm ambitious for our country." Speaking in Glasgow, the East Renfrewshire MP and former Scottish secretary, said: "This is a fresh start for the Scottish Labour Party. Scotland is changing and so too is Scottish Labour."
Mr Murphy, who has set out an ambition to defeat the SNP in the 2016 Scottish election and become first minister, will also need to win a Scottish Parliament seat. Mr Murphy, who has said Scottish Labour will in future make all its own decisions, said he was aiming to defeat the SNP in the 2016 Scottish election and become first minister.
Setting out his aim to tackle poverty and inequality, he said: "It is my driving purpose, it is our driving purpose, it's Scottish Labour's driving purpose to end that type of inequality once and for all." The politician, who will now need to win a Scottish Parliament seat, set out his aim to tackle poverty and said he would use new powers due to come to Holyrood to bring in a new 50p top income tax rate for people earning more than £150,000.
Mr Murphy said: "While I'm proud that so many children from prosperous backgrounds do brilliantly at school, it makes me angry that it's three times harder to get good school results if you're from a poorer family than a prosperous family." He said: "It is my driving purpose, it is our driving purpose, it's Scottish Labour's driving purpose to end that type of inequality once and for all.
"While I'm proud that so many children from prosperous backgrounds do brilliantly at school, it makes me angry that it's three times harder to get good school results if you're from a poorer family than a prosperous family."
He added: "It's entirely unacceptable and morally wrong that the poor live nine years shorter lives than the prosperous, and are three times more likely to take their own lives.He added: "It's entirely unacceptable and morally wrong that the poor live nine years shorter lives than the prosperous, and are three times more likely to take their own lives.
"I'm proud of our limitless potential, but we should be unsettled that not all Scots share in it - so Scottish Labour's mission isn't just to unite our country but to build a nation created on social justice.""I'm proud of our limitless potential, but we should be unsettled that not all Scots share in it - so Scottish Labour's mission isn't just to unite our country but to build a nation created on social justice."
Mr Murphy said the most effective anti-poverty measure was a successful economy and that meant backing businesses and creating jobs. 'More wealth'
"If redistribution is our aim, which it is, then we need more wealth, not less," he said. Mr Murphy, who pledged to make full use of new powers due to come to Scotland, said the most effective anti-poverty measure was a successful economy and that meant backing businesses and creating jobs.
"If redistribution is our aim, which it is, then we need more wealth, not less, we need more entrepreneurs, not fewer, a growing middle class that more families are able to join," he said.
Mr Murphy also made an appeal to those who voted for Scottish independence in September's referendum, adding: "I and the Scottish Labour Party share so much more in common with you and your values of those many hundreds of thousands who voted 'Yes' in the referendum than we do with many of the political leaders who campaigned for 'No' on the 18th of September.
"We share so much commitment to a fairer Scotland. We share a commitment to social justice. We share a sense of values.
"Yes, we disagreed on one vote on one day, but we should allow that to divide our nation."
Commenting on the outcome of the election, Mr Miliband said: "Jim showed in the referendum campaign that he is a fighter.
"He showed in the leadership campaign that he is a leader.
"I am going to be standing shoulder to shoulder with Jim in the campaign to get David Cameron out at the general election."
Sturgeon also congratulated Mr Murphy and Ms Dugdale, adding: "While we will undoubtedly cross swords often in the months ahead, my door is always open to those who wish to find common ground and work together in the best interests of people in Scotland - something I hope we will have the opportunity to do."
How might Jim Murphy become Scotland's First Minister?
When Jim Murphy stood for the leadership of Scottish Labour he said his ambition was not only to be boss of his party but to become first minister of Scotland.
Is that possible given the fact that he is not a politician at Holyrood?
The answer is yes, but he will have to take a few necessary steps - some within his control, others not - for it to happen.