Michael Marra named new leader of Scottish Labour
Michael Marra has replaced Anas Sarwar as the leader of Scottish Labour.
Michael Marra has become the leader of Scottish Labour - warning the party need to acknowledge modern Scotland and undergo a “fundamental broadening of our appeal” away from just middle class Scots.
Mr Marra, the North East regional MSP, becomes the party’s 11th permanent leader since devolution - replacing Anas Sarwar, who quit to take up a peerage.
The Dundee native comprehensively defeated Joe Fagan, the only other candidate able to get onto the ballot,
Mr Marra secured 4,266 of the 6,751 votes cast made up of party members and affiliates. Only 49 per cent of members voted while the turnout of affiliates was 5 per cent. Mr Marra won 63 per cent of votes cast.
Despite less than half of Scottish Labour members voting in the contest, Mr Marra claimed the result gives him “a really strong mandate”. But he warned it was a “long road ahead” to help Scottish Labour recover to where it once stood with the public.
Speaking to journalists in Edinburgh, Mr Marra said: “I’m not naive to the scale of the challenge.
“Our party still has an imaginary picture of a country that no longer exists, back from 25 years ago. We need to see Scotland where it is now and talk about those aspirations people have.
“That’s the kind of leadership I’m going to show - one that’s inclusive and brings people together, that’s not factional Frankly, we’re not big enough to have factions.
“As Scotland’s challenges have got bigger, the Labour party has got smaller. We need to regain momentum, scale, size and ambition of the country.”
He warned that “there has been a disconnect between our parliament and our country”.
Mr Marra added: “I think there is a frustration or an inability to work together to deliver on key issues. I’m going to continue that approach to make sure that we can work with the government.
“I’m looking forward to meeting with the First Minister, I hope, in the coming days to try and have those conversations with him and set out where I think we can find common ground.”
Asked whether Scottish Labour now only appeals to middle class voters, Mr Marra said: “There has been a tendency for too long that we’ve gone in that direction”.
He added: “We need to have a fundamental broadening of our appeal.”
Mr Fagan, who only became elected to the Scottish Parliament in May, led a campaign calling for a change of direction for the party following the dismal set of election results. But party members and affiliates voted to back Mr Marra, the party’s current finance spokesperson, to lead the party.
READ MORE: Marra warns Labour could 'lose national status' over Glasgow focus as he addresses Sarwar split
Mr Marra was announced as the new party leader in Edinburgh and will take over responsibilities from Jackie Baillie who had been acting leader since Mr Sarwar quit to take up his peerage.
Despite speculation acting leader Jackie Baillie and Mr Marra have fallen out over briefing allegations following the election, the new leader said he has “full confidence in Jackie in her position” as deputy leader.
“I’m looking forward to working with her”, he added.
Mr Marra told activists and supporters that May’s election “hurt so much because we know the SNP didn’t deserve a fifth term in power”.
He added: “But the truth is Scotland didn’t think we would be much better.
“Scots know what we are against. They can’t tell you what we are for. And that vacuum was filled by the poison, racism and bigotry of Reform.
“We must be clear in our values. We must lead with our values.”
The Scottish Labour leader stressed that “our politics has to start and finish with people”.
He said: “Rather than reaching straight for the political attack line, we should be convening all those who have been failed, building movements and alliances, and delivering change.
“That’s what Andy Burnham’s success in Manchester was all about. It was starting with the people and the policy, not the politics.
“I want Scottish Labour to become a genuinely national party: rooted in every part of Scotland, open to everyone and capable of bringing communities together.”
He set out three priorities for his leadership, warning that change cannot wait until the next Holyrood election.
Mr Marra argued his priorities will be to “open up the party and reconnect it with Scotland”, as well as “recover Labour’s purpose and build a programme for the future” and “deliver change now”.
He added: “In my first 100 days, I will take Scottish Labour out of the bubble of parliament and back into the country. We will work with people in their communities to understand what matters most, what is changing in their lives and what they want for the future.
“We will bring our values to the table, but we will be led by people’s priorities. Where our approach is not working, we will change what we are doing. Together, we will build practical answers in the places where people live. I call that politics with the doors open.
“And by working in this way, we will reconnect ourselves with Labour’s purpose.: a fairer country, good jobs, strong public services, power closer to people and opportunity for every young person—from nursery and school to college, apprenticeships and university.”
Mr Fagan, who Mr Marra said would be an “integral part” of his Holyrood team, told journalists he was “genuinely delighted for Michael”.
He added: The key message I take from what he said today was all about party unity.
“We’ve all got to rally around now and support the leader and we’ll move forward together as a party.”
Before the result was announced, Dame Jackie said the new leader will “lead our party with vision, with intelligence and commitment to making life better for Scots”.
“I’m looking forward to working with them.”
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