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Scottish Labour 'bullying' Ken Macintosh supporters Scottish Labour 'bullying' Ken Macintosh supporters
(35 minutes later)
Scottish Labour MSP Ken Macintosh has told BBC Scotland the "party machine" is bullying his supporters in an attempt to avoid a leadership contest.Scottish Labour MSP Ken Macintosh has told BBC Scotland the "party machine" is bullying his supporters in an attempt to avoid a leadership contest.
Mr Macintosh and party deputy leader Kezia Dugdale have confirmed that they are standing for leadership of the party when Jim Murphy quits next month.Mr Macintosh and party deputy leader Kezia Dugdale have confirmed that they are standing for leadership of the party when Jim Murphy quits next month.
The Eastwood MSP said his supporters were being "bullied and intimidated" into withdrawing their backing.The Eastwood MSP said his supporters were being "bullied and intimidated" into withdrawing their backing.
The Scottish Labour Party is yet to comment on his accusations.The Scottish Labour Party is yet to comment on his accusations.
Mr Murphy announced that he would resign next month despite narrowly surviving a vote of no confidence last week.Mr Murphy announced that he would resign next month despite narrowly surviving a vote of no confidence last week.
His departure leaves the party looking for its sixth leader in eight years. The former East Renfrewshire MP had been the Scottish party leader since December but he announced he would quit a week after Labour's crushing general election defeat at the hands of the SNP.
The former East Renfrewshire MP had only been the Scottish party leader since December but he announced he would quit a week after Labour's crushing general election defeat at the hands of the SNP.
'Incredible pressure'
Ms Dugdale, who is widely regarded as the "obvious person" to take on the job, confirmed her leadership bid on Friday.Ms Dugdale, who is widely regarded as the "obvious person" to take on the job, confirmed her leadership bid on Friday.
Mr Macintosh, the party's social justice spokesman, ran for party against Johann Lamont almost four years ago and is likely to need nominations from six or seven MSPs to be a candidate in this leadership contest. 'Incredible pressure'
Mr Macintosh, the party's social justice spokesman, ran for party leadership against Johann Lamont almost four years ago and is likely to need nominations from six or seven MSPs to be a candidate in this leadership contest.
But he claims his backers are coming under "incredible pressure to withdraw their support".But he claims his backers are coming under "incredible pressure to withdraw their support".
"I want to have a contest but I've found the whole weight of the party machine yet again turning against me trying to close down a contest," he told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme."I want to have a contest but I've found the whole weight of the party machine yet again turning against me trying to close down a contest," he told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme.
"All the people that have been trying to support me, the party machine has turned on them, and they are being put under incredible pressure to withdraw their support. They are being bullied and being intimidated and pressurised not to support me so we don't have a contest."All the people that have been trying to support me, the party machine has turned on them, and they are being put under incredible pressure to withdraw their support. They are being bullied and being intimidated and pressurised not to support me so we don't have a contest.
"I wouldn't even have put my head above the parapet if I didn't know I had that support.""I wouldn't even have put my head above the parapet if I didn't know I had that support."
Scottish Labour frontbenchers Jackie Baillie and Sarah Boyack are understood to have ruled themselves out of the leadership contest. Mr Macintosh, who won a majority of member votes in the last leadership contest, said the three-college system used by the Labour Party to elect leaders was "ridiculous".
Health spokeswoman Jenny Marra is said to be "very unlikely" to stand. "I want the members to take control of the party," he said. "We need to move to one member, one vote."
Neil Findlay, who stood against Mr Murphy when he won the leadership just six months ago, has also said he would not stand this time. He called for a quick contest, before the summer if possible, that is "fair and democratic".
'Conviction politician'
Mr Macintosh said he would campaign on fairness and social justice across the whole of Scotland with an emphasis on lifelong learning, housing and renewable energy.
"The reason I think it is important that I put my views forward is I think that is all about restoring trust in the Labour Party," he said.
"At the last election people could not bring themselves to put their trust in Labour. I can't believe that after all these years and what we stand for."
Mr Macintosh said restoring the Scottish Labour Party required integrity, principles and honesty and "moving away from machine politics and guile and the idea it's about power and position".
"I'm in politics to make other people's lives better, whether I'm leader or not leader, whether I'm MSP or not MSP. I am a conviction politician," he said.
He said problems with the "party machine" were about "people who want power and position and influence", which was an "issue for all politicians".
"We have to remember our principles and if we can't do that we can't restore confidence in the Labour Party," Mr Macintosh added.
Ms Dugdale, the Lothian region MSP, said she welcomed a leadership contest.
She has won the backing of more than half of Scottish Labour's MSPs and MP Ian Murray since announcing her intention to stand on Friday.
"I am proud to have already won the support of so many Labour colleagues in the Scottish Parliament," Ms Dugdale said.
"The geographical spread of support I have - with MSPs from north and south, east and west - as well as the backing of MSPs from different parts of our movement shows I can bring our party together."