RICHARD Leonard has insisted he is the right person to lead Scottish Labour into next year’s Holyrood election, despite even more members of his party urging him to quit.

In an interview with the BBC last night he pledged to stand against anyone who challenged him for the job.

And the beleaguered chief suggested that the MSPs who have spoken against him could be replaced by some “new blood”.

At the time of going to press, four Scottish Labour MSPs – James Kelly, Jenny Marra, Daniel Johnson and Mark Griffin – had called on Leonard to resign.

It’s expected more could join their number today ahead of this weekend’s meeting of Labour’s ruling National Executive meeting.

Yesterday morning, one of Keir Starmer’s closest allies, shadow cabinet minister Rachel Reeves, said Leonard should look at the polls and “consider his position”.

However, Labour leader Starmer later said the issue was one for Scottish Labour and insisted that he and Leonard had a “very good working relationship”.

A group of Labour peers have also called for Leonard to stand down.

Former defence secretary and Nato secretary general George Robertson, former MI6 officer Meta Ramsay, former Scottish secretary Helen Liddell and Labour peer George Foulkes said Leonard’s resignation would allow the “restoration of the party” to begin.

In a letter to Leonard, they said it is “clear to us and to many within the party that you have, sadly, not been able to make an impact with the Scottish public”.

It went on: “It is clear to us and to many within the party, that you have, sadly, not been able to make an impact with the Scottish public and your recent response to criticism by intensifying your campaign appears to have resulted in no improvement.

“We are therefore asking you to do what is best for the party, and the country, and consider whether continuing as leader of Scottish Labour is in the interests of both the party and the people we seek to serve.”

There was support for Leonard from Neil Findlay. In an email to party colleagues, he wrote: “I support Richard 100% – the usual suspects think we just need to wind back to 1997 and then wave a Union Flag with gusto with [MP] Ian Murray and [deputy leader] Jackie Baillie leading and all will be well – delusion doesn’t come close to it.”

Leonard told the BBC: “Anybody who comes under criticism has a period of reflection, but I am absolutely convinced that I am the best person to lead the Scottish Labour Party into those elections.

“I cannot see anybody, at the moment, who I think would make a better leader of the Scottish Labour Party.”

Leonard went on to say that he did not believe his critics could trigger a leadership contest but, if they did, he would stand against anyone who did challenge him.

Leonard also said party members would have a choice about which candidates they wanted to see at the top of its regional lists for the election.

He added: “I am keen to see some fresh blood in and, to be honest with you, the last 36 hours have really persuaded me that we need some new voices, we need greater diversity, we need some new blood and new energy in that parliamentary group.

“I think that could only benefit the long-term future of Scottish Labour.”

One Labour source told The National that they believed this was what was really behind the attempted coup.

They said that Leonard was keen to see all regional lists headed by a woman. If the proposal passes it could mean some current MSPs, like Kelly, shunted down the list.