The Scottish Labour Party needs to take ownership of being rejected

Last week’s Scottish Parliament election result sadly, really doesn’t come as a surprise to many of us. It breaks my heart to think that friends of mine didn’t win or weren’t re-elected and that they have lost their job as well as their staff members, but that’s the brutal business of politics, when you’re out, you’re out.

Having been out of power since 2007, the Scottish Labour Party is quickly becoming a legacy party, a party that people remember did great things historically versus a party that is perceived to be engulfed in an internal psychodrama with its UK counterpart underpinned by rivals who clearly have political leadership ambitions something I’m sure we will hear more about in the coming days.

If I’m honest the longer this goes on and becomes a distraction, the more damaging it will be to the UK Labour Party in the long term. What would be best is either a decisive leadership election or a renewed focus with fresh talent focussed on delivery. In Scotland the party’s messaging didn’t breakthrough to the electorate and there was no clear vision from the party that voters could get behind or feel part. This in turn resulting in the Scottish Labour Party being rejected again by the electorate.

I’m not just saying this because I’m writing this yards from the Colosseum in Rome celebrating my first-year wedding anniversary to Hannah , but the people of Scotland want someone that will fight and champion for them, tackling the issues affecting Scotland -cost of living crisis, food insecurity, housing, economy, the issues that matter. This is what the SNP did and that’s what got traction with voters, albeit with reduced numbers but still a historical win for a party that’s been in power for almost 20 years. Again, the proof is in the policy pudding, but let’s not lose sight of the fact that John Swinney has been given a mandate to govern and which I believe will see a different government emerge which will look to tackle these issues in a progressive way and by all parties working together.

I remember meeting with Anas Sarwar in Edinburgh for a coffee a few weeks after the 2021 election and there was a real fire in his belly. He was up for the fight, and there is no doubt in my mind of his commitment to wanting to make Scotland a better place. But the fact of the matter is although the Scottish Labour Party was often overshadowed by what was happening at Westminster whether it be Mandelson, McSweeney, the numerous policy U turns, the inconsistencies of what was said in the 2024 general election versus what the party in government did, the brutal reality is that the Scottish Labour Party needs to take ownership of being rejected by the electorate and really think about the future direction of the party.

Over the coming days Anas’s leadership and stewardship of the party will be questioned, should he stay on as leader or should he step down, both legitimate questions that only Anas can answer. The same goes for Douglas Alexander, Secretary of State for Scotland and Jackie Bailie, both co-chairs of the election campaign who devised and implemented the campaign strategy.

The status quo just won’t cut it. In a crowded political market of six parties, the Scottish Labour Party needs to re- define its offer in a way that voters can get behind and start showing the people of Scotland that even in opposition it will do all it can to constructively engage with government when there is common ground to do so, whilst also holding the government to account. Opposition for oppositions sake makes any political party look amateurish, unnecessarily obstructive, and out of touch in the eyes of voters and enables opponents to say that only they are standing up for Scotland.

The First Minister, John Swinney has spoken about working with opposition parties to tackle the pressing issues facing Scotland and if he is true to his word, this is an opportunity for the Scottish Labour Party to show the people of Scotland that even in opposition they can shape and influence government policy as opposed to being by standers on the opposition benches, after all wouldn’t the people of Scotland rather see all political parties work together.

Barrie Cunning is the Founder of Scotland 2050 and the managing director of Pentland Communications.

Scotland 2050 is Scotland’s leading one day conference that brings together people from the world of business, politics and civic society and takes place on 2 June at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh. Scotland 2050 is a free ticketed event and tickets can be purchased by going to

www.scotland-2050.co.uk