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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| McConnell to step down as leader | McConnell to step down as leader |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Former first minister Jack McConnell is to announce his resignation as Scottish Labour leader. | |
| The 47-year-old is said to want to undertake new challenges, including becoming involved with projects in the Third World. | The 47-year-old is said to want to undertake new challenges, including becoming involved with projects in the Third World. |
| Mr McConnell has been under pressure to go since the Scottish National Party won the Holyrood elections in May. | Mr McConnell has been under pressure to go since the Scottish National Party won the Holyrood elections in May. |
| There has been speculation that the MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw has been offered a seat in the House of Lords. | There has been speculation that the MSP for Motherwell and Wishaw has been offered a seat in the House of Lords. |
| Mr McConnell forged close connections between Scotland and Malawi - and it is thought he will undertake a challenging new role assisting with education projects in that country. | Mr McConnell forged close connections between Scotland and Malawi - and it is thought he will undertake a challenging new role assisting with education projects in that country. |
| However, it is believed he will remain an MSP. | However, it is believed he will remain an MSP. |
| Former enterprise minister Wendy Alexander has been tipped as the frontrunner to succeed him. | Former enterprise minister Wendy Alexander has been tipped as the frontrunner to succeed him. |
| However, it is not clear if there will be a leadership contest. | However, it is not clear if there will be a leadership contest. |
| Mr McConnell was elected first minister and Scottish Labour leader in 2001, succeeding Henry McLeish. | Mr McConnell was elected first minister and Scottish Labour leader in 2001, succeeding Henry McLeish. |
| It will take a wee bit of the attention away from the SNP for a little while as people begin to contemplate who will replace him as Labour leader at Holyrood Glenn Campbell,Political correspondent | It will take a wee bit of the attention away from the SNP for a little while as people begin to contemplate who will replace him as Labour leader at Holyrood Glenn Campbell,Political correspondent |
| Following the SNP's victory in this year's Holyrood elections, Mr McConnell said he would continue as party leader and refused to speculate on when he might go or face a challenger. | Following the SNP's victory in this year's Holyrood elections, Mr McConnell said he would continue as party leader and refused to speculate on when he might go or face a challenger. |
| BBC Scotland political correspondent Glenn Campbell said: "It's certainly been expected that he would make some sort of statement by the end of the month. | BBC Scotland political correspondent Glenn Campbell said: "It's certainly been expected that he would make some sort of statement by the end of the month. |
| "I think it's been fairly clear that he didn't want to do that before the SNP launched its national conversation on the future of Scotland and its plans for an independence referendum. | "I think it's been fairly clear that he didn't want to do that before the SNP launched its national conversation on the future of Scotland and its plans for an independence referendum. |
| "That is now out of the way and obviously that discussion will still be going on tomorrow. | "That is now out of the way and obviously that discussion will still be going on tomorrow. |
| "If indeed he confirms his resignation it will take a wee bit of the attention away from the SNP for a little while as people begin to contemplate who will replace him as Labour leader at Holyrood." | "If indeed he confirms his resignation it will take a wee bit of the attention away from the SNP for a little while as people begin to contemplate who will replace him as Labour leader at Holyrood." |
| A Labour spokesman was not available for comment on reports of the resignation. | A Labour spokesman was not available for comment on reports of the resignation. |