SCOTLAND'S only Labour MP has been pushed to run for deputy leader of the party in a bid to "widen the debate".
It comes amid a warning that those who have intimated their interest in running for the party's top jobs are too focused on the north of England.
A senior Labour Party source said Ian Murray was approached by MPs to mount a possible run but nothing has been decided as yet.
It is understood the Edinburgh South MP will take the festive period to decide if he will throw his hat in the ring in the new year.
The source said: "There's a feeling among some MPs that the debate should be widened to include Scotland and Wales, as opposed to just the north of England."
Murray was a frequent critic of Jeremy Corbyn and battled deselection before the election after a bid by the Unite trade union.
Local party members voted against the attempt to unseat him and the Edinburgh South MP marched to a majority of more than 10,000 votes, down from the 2017 election - when he enjoyed the highest vote share of any candidate in Scotland.
Murray tweeted, hours after polls closed on December 12, that the current Labour leader was a frequent topic of discussion on the doorsteps of his constituency, adding the party had "let the country down".
He had previously fallen out of favour with party leadership when he resigned as shadow Scottish secretary in 2016, questioning the ability of Corbyn to win a general election, along with other frontbenchers.
Unite leader Len McCluskey, an ally of the current Labour leader, said in October it was an "absolute insult" by Murray.
Corbyn announced he would not fight another general election as Labour leader on polling night.
He is expected to remain in place until the end of the leadership contest in March.
Despite being the only MP north of the border, Murray was passed over for his former Scottish shadow secretary role in favour of Rochdale MP Tony Lloyd.
During the election campaign, Murray was supported by former prime minister Gordon Brown and Shadow Brexit Secretary – and possible candidate for leader – Keir Starmer.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel