SCOTTISH Labour are full of surprises. Even when you think they have hit rock bottom they manage to plummet yet further.

It is increasingly obvious that Labour in Scotland are dead. They are no more.

Reports of their death are not premature.

We may have previously said Jim Murphy was a complete failure after he presided over the loss of 40 seats in May’s General Election. Perhaps, by holding on to one seat, he staved off Scottish Labour’s death for a few more months.The leaked focus group reports will make grim reading for the ever-optimistic Kezia Dugdale and her deputy Alex Rowley.

This is not merely about the party moving further to the left or standing up to London. There is now no way to save Scottish Labour.

The party must disband and create something new. For the party to rise from the ashes there needs to be ashes. Let’s hope Labour set themselves on fire soon. If they don’t, next May they can expect the voters to do just that.

Labour's own research shows Scots party faces grim future