JEREMY Corbyn ally Richard Leonard is yet to gain the support he needs to be a contender to succeed Kezia Dugdale.
The Central Scotland MSP and former trade unionist has been nominated by left-wing MSPs Neil Findlay and Elaine Smith, but under the party’s rules he needs nominations from a minimum of five parliamentarians to fight the contest.
Yesterday Leonard’s campaign spokesman said he was confident the MSP would get sufficient backing. “Yes, we are confident that Richard will receive the nominations to get on the ballot paper,” he said. “We have been heartened by the level of support Richard is receiving from right across the Labour Party and the labour movement.
“Our party is a broad church and that is one of our strengths. Ours is a party which organises across parliaments, council chambers, but outside parliament too. That is another strength.
“Scotland needs bold and radical change. Too many young people are in precarious work and too many older people live in fuel poverty. The richest one per cent in our country own as much wealth as the poorest 50 per cent put together.
“These are the challenges our country faces, that is why we need a distinctive Scottish Labour vision. Richard is the change candidate in this election. We are pleased that people across the party agree Richard has the energy, the experience, the conviction and credibility to deliver that bold and radical change.”
Leonard’s rival Anas Sarwar, a Glasgow MSP, yesterday announced he had secured the backing of almost half of Scottish Labour’s parliamentarians.
The MSP revealed a list of supporters a day after announcing his bid for the job, including 11 of the party’s 22 MSPs and two of its seven MPs. He also secured the backing of one of the two MEPs. Former leader Iain Gray and former shadow Scottish Secretary Ian Murray are among those who have declared their support for him.
Dugdale stood down last Tuesday after a five-day visit by Corbyn to Scotland during which he toured marginal constituencies.
Sarwar, the party’s health spokesman, lost his Westminster seat in 2015 when his party was left with just one MP, but was elected to Holyrood last year.
He said: “I am humbled to have received support from so many colleagues in such a short space of time. Labour is revitalised in Scotland and we need a united party in Holyrood that is fighting the SNP and ready to form Scotland’s next government.”
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