Michael Marra confirms he is standing in Scottish Labour leadership election

The North East Scotland MSP said that bringing about a “better” and “more equal” Scotland would be his “driving ambition”.

His announcement comes after Anas Sarwar quit as leader for a place in the House of Lords and a job in Andy Burnham’s UK Government.

Mr Marra will go up against Monica Lennon, who will replace Mr Sarwar as Glasgow list, for the leadership.

Left-wing MSP Katy Clark is also weighing up whether to stand.

Mr Marra said: “The promise of our Scottish Labour Party is that we build a better, more equal nation, and we leave it as a legacy for our children.

“That is a moral purpose. But too often it can become clouded in the day to day of our politics.

“In this moment of renewal for our party, we must restate that purpose. But we also have to listen. We have to learn. And we have to change.

“This is not a question of reacting to one bad defeat. Scottish Labour has gone backwards six Holyrood elections in a row.

“That better, more equal Scotland is my driving ambition. It's what gets me up in the morning. It’s what motivates me to stand up for the people I grew up with here in Dundee.

“It's what drives me as I campaign for change across Scotland.

“It's why I'm standing to be the leader of the Scottish Labour Party.

“In reality, leadership isn't a job for one person. It's for all of us. So I'm offering the skills, the experience, and the character to lead us on that road to recovery.”

Mr Marra was first elected as an MSP in 2021. He initially served as education spokesperson, before taking on the finance brief in 2023.

Ms Lennon, his main rival, is set to become an MSP soon after Mr Sarwar resigned his seat to join the House of Lords.

She stood against Mr Sarwar for the leadership in 2021, but lost with 42 per cent of the vote.

She was a list MSP for the Central Scotland region between 2016 and 2026, but was not elected as a member for the Glasgow region in May’s Holyrood election.

Mr Sarwar standing down means the seat goes to the next person on the list - which is Ms Lennon.

It comes after The Scotsman revealed that left-wing MSP Katy Clark is weighing up whether to stand.

Ms Clark is understood to be actively considering running. She has phoned MP and MSP colleagues to gauge whether she has enough support.

Two Labour parliamentarians confirmed they had been approached by Baroness Clark about backing her.

One said: “Katy has been making phone calls around to MPs and MSPs.”

A second added: “I have had a phone call from her.”

Baroness Clark - who resigned from the House of Lords in May - recently became deputy presiding officer of the Scottish Parliament.

She lost the 2014 deputy leadership election to Kezia Dugdale.

She was heavily beaten in the individual members and elected members parts of the vote, but won 63.6 per cent of the trade union share.

A Labour source said: “Katy Clark is interested. She stood for the Deputy Leadership in the 2014 election but is suggesting that she did well among the affiliated members and would do so again.

“The problem is that in 2014 the three-tier electoral college was used, with three groups – individual party members, parliamentarians, and affiliated bodies such as trade unions – each making up a third of the electorate.

“With one member one vote there is no way of making a direct comparison, so her claims are a bit overstated.”

Baroness Clark said: “Scottish Labour campaigned for and created the Scottish Parliament because we believed it had the potential to transform lives and communities for the better.

“However, we are failing to provide the leadership needed to ensure the powers of the Parliament are used to maximum effect for the benefit of working class communities.

“Regardless of how many MSPs we have, Scottish Labour must be the party of social and economic justice.

“We cannot continue to define ourselves against our opponents, but instead offer a positive Labour vision which puts economic and social justice at its heart.”

It comes as the Scottish Labour Party announced its timetable for the election.

Nominations open for leader on Monday, August 3 and close two weeks later.

The ballot opens on Friday, August 28 and closes on Thursday, September 17.

The new leader will be announced at a special conference on Saturday, September 19.

The UK Labour Party conference takes place in Liverpool a week later - where the new leader will make a speech onstage.

Acting Leader of the Scottish Labour Party Jackie Baillie said: “I want to thank Anas Sarwar for his leadership and friendship.

“He led the Scottish Labour Party with integrity and a vision to build a fairer and more equal Scotland.

“The Scottish Executive Committee have tonight agreed a timetable for the election of the next Leader of the Scottish Labour Party.

“The agreed process guarantees a fair and open contest, while ensuring we are able to progress at pace and elect a new Leader without delay.”

“This will allow us to continue to build on the hard work of recent years and take Scottish Labour forward, ready to hold the SNP to account and confront the poisonous politics of Reform in Scotland.”

Edinburgh Southern MSP Daniel Johnson had tipped as a potential contender, but decided to endorse Mr Marra instead.

Glasgow list MSP Paul Sweeney and South of Scotland MSP Joe Fagan - who was only elected to Holyrood in May - have been touted as challengers.