SCOTTISH Labour were already in chaos this week, amid infighting over the party's handling of the row over Kezia Dugdale's legal fees.
READ MORE: Leaked Labour WhatsApp messages reveal clashes over Dugdale's legal fees
And now, there's a fresh wave of anger, with Richard Leonard having just revealed a shadow cabinet reshuffle.
There had been rumours of it coming, with some in the party disappointed by its treatment of Dugdale ... but the manner in which it has been carried out prompted fresh criticism.
Anas Sarwar was fired from his post as Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport – but only found out he was fired through Twitter.
I’m deeply disappointed to no longer be Scottish Labour’s Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health. My full statement below: pic.twitter.com/GAomhFHkfC
— Anas Sarwar (@AnasSarwar) October 4, 2018
Sarwar said: “I’m deeply disappointed to no longer be Scottish Labour’s Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health. It’s a shame that I came to know about this decision through Twitter, while I was leading for Labour in a health debate in the Holyrood chamber."
The SNP's Humza Yousaf questioned if, combined with other evidence, it indicated structural racism with Scottish Labour.
Scottish Labour denied Asian members voting rights in an internal selection battle, allegedly discounted Asian members postal ballots and have now chucked their only Asian front bencher to the back benches.
— Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) October 4, 2018
Structural racism within Scottish Labour? https://t.co/2gU40eaYyE
Sarwar wasn't the only one to lose out, however. Jackie Baillie was removed from her post of Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work.
No replacement was named for Baillie, though Leonard will take on the economy brief.
MP Ian Murray hit out at the decision, describing it as a "devastating loss to Scottish Labour front bench".
One of the happier MSPs was Neil Findlay, who will take up the role of the branch office's business manager.
All in all, it seemed a clear move by Leonard to unite the party around him, amid anger over his failure to back Dugdale.
So, here's that new shadow cabinet in full:
Leader: Richard Leonard (also leading economy brief)
Deputy leader and Shadow Scotland secretary: Lesley Laird
Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs: Claire Baker
Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform: Clauda Beamish
Business Manager, Party Liaison, Constitutional Relations: Neil Findlay
Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy: Rhoda Grant
Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills: Ian Gray
Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Justice: Daniel Johnson
Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Finance: James Kelly
Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Sport: Monica Lennon (previously Anas Sarwar)
Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Equalities, Housing and Social Security: Pauline McNeil (previously Monica Lennon)
Shadow Cabinet Secretary for the Eradication of Poverty and Inequality: Elaine Smith
Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Connectivity and Transport: Colin Smyth
Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Communities and Local Government: Alex Rowley
In the statement announcing the reshuffle, Leonard said: "I thank the outgoing Shadow Cabinet for their contribution.
"The refreshed shadow cabinet will take Scottish Labour into the central debate in Scottish politics: the clear choice between Labour’s plan to invest and build an economy that works for the many, not the few, or further austerity with the SNP and the Tories.
"My new shadow cabinet is a blend of skills and experience whose aim is to turn around Scottish Labour’s electoral successes.
"Labour support is recovering in Scotland – we have increased our support from where we were just a couple of years ago. But we understand much more needs to be done; we have to do better in convincing people of our message.
"So change does not stop at the shadow cabinet. I have today asked Lesley Laird to carry out a review, reporting to me, of Scottish Labour’s organisation and operations to ensure that we are fully battle-ready for 2021.
"I want to thank our staff who work so hard and I know that the outcome of this review will help them and everyone in Scottish Labour deliver our shared objectives."
This won't do much to convince anyone that Scottish Labour are in anything other than complete meltdown.
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