KEIR Starmer does not have confidence in Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard, it has been reported.
As the latest Scottish Parliament voting intentions from YouGov showed just 14% of people plan to vote Labour next year, The Times revealed they had been told the Labour leader does not believe Leonard could reverse the party's fortunes.
It is understood a series of digital meetings with Scottish voters cemented Starmer’s view, as those taking part said they didn’t know who Leonard was and heaped praise on First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
A separate YouGov poll last month found that nearly 60% of Scottish voters could not identify Leonard.
READ MORE: New pressure on Richard Leonard as Scottish Labour warned they're in 'peril'
Leonard has faced calls to resign from some Labour figures, including George Foulkes, in recent weeks.
The news comes after a report, put together by think tank Our Scottish Future and sent out to MSPs, warned the party is in “peril”.
The document expressed concern that polling has “consistently indicated seat losses” for some time. Under Leonard’s leadership Scottish Labour fell to fifth place at the European Parliament election and lost six out of seven Westminster seats at the 2019 General Election.
The Our Scottish Future report told MSPs: “In Nicola Sturgeon, Labour are facing a popular and highly effective politician who is capable of consistently elevating her party.”
They showed a Panelbase poll putting the First Minister’s net approval rating at +57 among people who voted Labour in 2019.
Keith Brown, the SNP depute leader, said it doesn’t matter who is in charge of Scottish Labour – as long as they are “hitched to Westminster control of Scotland they are doomed”.
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