Scottish Labour must have more control over its own destiny, says former MSP
Monica Lennon, who lost her seat at last month's election, said nothing should be off the table as the party debates its future
Scottish Labour needs to have more control over its own destiny and breaking away from the UK party is an "option", a former MSP has said.
Monica Lennon, who lost her seat at last month's election, said nothing should be off the table as the party debates its political future over the summer.
She said Andy Burnham could usher in a new era for the Labour Party but stressed he is not a “messiah”.
It came as a journalist who wrote a book with Andy Burnham suggested the likely incoming prime minister could devolve power away from Holyrood and into cities such as Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Liam Thorp, the political editor of the Liverpool Echo, said devolution will be “central to absolutely everything” under Mr Burnham.
“I think he wants to draw that devolution down to a more local level in places like Scotland,” Mr Thorp, who collaborated on a 2024 book with Mr Burnham and Liverpool mayor Steve Rotheram, said.
He said this could potentially include a mayoral system similar to Manchester and Liverpool.
Ms Lennon also said Mr Burnham could decentralise power, telling the BBC: “I think there is an argument for mayors.”
She said Keir Starmer and the UK Labour government’s unpopularity was the main reason for Scottish Labour’s “disaster” at last month’s Holyrood election.
The party suffered its worst result in the history of devolution, falling to 17 MSPs and tying with Reform UK in second place.
“Anyone who has been involved with Scottish Labour’s campaign knows that the issue on the door was Keir Starmer and the UK government and their performance,” Ms Lennon said.
She said Scottish Labour will be having a “big review” over the summer, in which “very searching questions” will be asked about the party’s position on key issues.
The former Central Scotland MSP said: "What we need to do within Scottish Labour is have more control over our own destiny."
Asked about breaking away from the UK party, she said: "That's an option. Really, nothing is off the table."
Ms Lennon added: "We have an opportunity over the summer for the whole of Scottish Labour to come together - that's our members, that's our affiliated trade unions and other organisations who are part of the Labour family - to make sure that we don't shy away from responsibility."
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar previously said he would “absolutely” stay on as leader despite his party’s election defeat.
Some insiders have criticised the strategy adopted by Mr Sarwar and his deputy, Jackie Baillie.
Ms Lennon said: "Anas and Jackie are the right people to lead this [party] conversation, because they will take responsibility for their part in it as well.
"We raised lots of money in Scotland, we were getting lots of broad support, but in the campaign we just couldn't get a hearing because of what was happening down the road in Downing Street, in Keir Starmer's government.
"And look what's happened - Keir Starmer is about to leave."
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