SCOTTISH Labour will today unveil its new leader following a 10-week contest which saw the left and centrist wings of the party fighting over its future direction and standing north of the Border.
Richard Leonard, Central Scotland MSP, and Anas Sarwar, Glasgow MSP, have been competing for the votes of party members and supporters, with the result due to be announced in Glasgow just after 11am.
The winner will be the ninth party leader (not counting interim leaders) since devolution in 1999 and follows the sudden resignation of Kezia Dugdale in August.
Sarwar received the backing of several of the party’s high-profile parliamentarians, including MP Ian Murray and current interim leader Jackie Baillie, while the more left-wing Leonard has the support of the majority of trade unions and most of the party’s MPs.
Sarwar came under close scrutiny early on in the contest for the working practices at his family’s firm and his decision to send his children to a private school.
Meanwhile, supporters of both candidates raised concerns over the sign-up process for those eligible to vote, with accusations of unfair tactics on both sides.
For much of the contest Leonard was seen as the front-runner, but a leaked briefing document by his campaign manager Simon Fletcher suggested the result would be close and could be affected by low turnout among union affiliates.
Fletcher said: “We are not going to predict the outcome. From the outset we have not briefed our numbers or offered a prediction.
“We believe we have done everything possible in this campaign. Contrary to the presentation of Richard as the front-runner, we have always believed that this is a massive stretch for a relatively less well-known candidate to deliver victory for a message of change.”
Fletcher pointed out that Labour party membership in Scotland was generally more centrist than the party membership in England.
“In the most recent leadership election in Scotland last summer, Owen Smith secured 53.2 per cent to Jeremy Corbyn’s 46.8 per cent amongst the members.
“In the 2014 leadership election Neil Findlay – who is supporting Richard Leonard in this election – secured 32.7 per cent of the membership compared to 60.4 per cent to Jim Murphy.”
He added: “Richard has a considerable amount of support amongst members who joined before, during and after the 2017 General Election – notably amongst the very many young people who are again joining the Labour Party.
“He has also shown that he can reach into previously existing members who are hungry for change in order to deliver electoral advance and connect with Labour’s political development at a UK level. This was reflected in the constituency party nominations.
“We believe that Anas has a strong showing amongst members who joined since the contest started. We know that affiliated supporters often have a lower turnout than members. So the question could well come down to the balance between the different degrees of turnout.”
The election concludes at a tumultuous time for the party, with Alex Rowley being suspended as a member of the Scottish Labour parliamentary group on Wednesday.
Rowley had earlier stepped down as interim and deputy leader after allegations about his conduct emerged that morning.
Both candidates thanked their supporters after voting closed at midday yesterday.
Sarwar said: “Our campaign to put Labour values at the heart of Scotland’s future galvanised and motivated thousands who want our party to fight harder against a Tory Brexit, be bolder in our ambition to lift children out of poverty, and be more radical with tax powers.”
Leonard said: “I’d like to thank all those who have voted – and people, members and trade unions who have supported my leadership campaign. I could not have asked for more from the dedicated team of volunteers who have worked tirelessly on the campaign. It is a campaign rooted in Labour values from the grassroots up and that work has shifted the debate in Scottish Labour for good.
“Now is the time for the party to come together to take the fight to the SNP and the Tories, for all of those people in all of those communities who need Labour back in power.”
Each of the candidates have pledged a place in their frontbench team for their rival, which may smooth divions exposed by the long contest.
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