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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Scottish Labour leadership: Likely candidates say they will not enter race | Scottish Labour leadership: Likely candidates say they will not enter race |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Several likely candidates have ruled themselves out of the running to replace Johann Lamont as the new leader of the Scottish Labour Party. | Several likely candidates have ruled themselves out of the running to replace Johann Lamont as the new leader of the Scottish Labour Party. |
| MSPs Kezia Dugdale and Jenny Marra have said they will not stand in the leadership contest. | MSPs Kezia Dugdale and Jenny Marra have said they will not stand in the leadership contest. |
| The party's acting leader, MP Anas Sarwar, has also ruled himself out. | The party's acting leader, MP Anas Sarwar, has also ruled himself out. |
| Scottish Labour's health spokesman, MSP Neil Findlay, said he wanted former prime minister Gordon Brown to take over the reins. | Scottish Labour's health spokesman, MSP Neil Findlay, said he wanted former prime minister Gordon Brown to take over the reins. |
| Mr Brown has yet to declare his position. | Mr Brown has yet to declare his position. |
| At Westminster, it is thought that the shadow international development secretary, Jim Murphy, is the most likely candidate. | At Westminster, it is thought that the shadow international development secretary, Jim Murphy, is the most likely candidate. |
| Labour MSPs were to meet in Glasgow at lunchtime to discuss Ms Lamont's departure after nearly three years as leader. Labour MPs will later meet in Westminster to discuss the party's future north of the border. | Labour MSPs were to meet in Glasgow at lunchtime to discuss Ms Lamont's departure after nearly three years as leader. Labour MPs will later meet in Westminster to discuss the party's future north of the border. |
| The party has confirmed that MSP Jackie Baillie will speak for Labour at first minister's questions this week, although it has not said if this will continue to be the arrangement until a new leader is chosen. | The party has confirmed that MSP Jackie Baillie will speak for Labour at first minister's questions this week, although it has not said if this will continue to be the arrangement until a new leader is chosen. |
| A new Scottish leader, who could be an MP, MSP or MEP, is due to be in place by 13 December. | A new Scottish leader, who could be an MP, MSP or MEP, is due to be in place by 13 December. |
| Speculation is mounting about who might stand. | Speculation is mounting about who might stand. |
| Mr Findlay, who had been tipped as a possible contender, told the BBC he would do everything in his power to encourage Mr Brown to seek nomination. | Mr Findlay, who had been tipped as a possible contender, told the BBC he would do everything in his power to encourage Mr Brown to seek nomination. |
| How is the new leader elected? | |
| Labour MP Katy Clark said the Scottish party needed "a significant move to the left". | |
| She told the BBC's Daily Politics: "The Scottish Labour Party already has a different policy, for example, on Trident. | |
| "We vote against Trident at our conferences and we can't ignore that because that's where the Scottish people are, and in every opinion poll since the 1950s the Scottish people said they don't want nuclear weapons." | |
| However, former Labour Home Secretary David Blunkett told the programme: "We can't have a different policy on Trident in Scotland as we have in England and Wales because it's a defence policy." | |
| Mr Blunkett also dismissed the notion that Gordon Brown would want to lead Scottish Labour. | |
| 'Joined at the hip' | |
| The group Labour for Scotland, which includes former MSPs Frank McAveety and Pauline McNeill, has called for the Scottish party to become fully autonomous from the London leadership and back full devolution of income tax and welfare. | |
| The group is backed by MSPs Michael McMahon and Cara Hilton. | |
| Meanwhile, Ms Baillie has denied there were factions of Labour MSPs and MPs within the party, and insisted they were "joined at the hip" in doing the best they could. | Meanwhile, Ms Baillie has denied there were factions of Labour MSPs and MPs within the party, and insisted they were "joined at the hip" in doing the best they could. |
| She told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme that it was natural for there to "always be" a debate between MPs and MSPs, but she denied there had been the levels of interference stated by Ms Lamont. | She told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme that it was natural for there to "always be" a debate between MPs and MSPs, but she denied there had been the levels of interference stated by Ms Lamont. |
| Ms Baillie said: "Whether you are an MP or MSP in Scotland you are representing constituents in Scotland. | Ms Baillie said: "Whether you are an MP or MSP in Scotland you are representing constituents in Scotland. |
| "It doesn't matter what chamber you are in, you are absolutely joined at the hip in wanting the best that we can." | "It doesn't matter what chamber you are in, you are absolutely joined at the hip in wanting the best that we can." |
| Ms Baillie has ruled herself out of the contest, saying she would rather play a "supporting role" than be leader. | Ms Baillie has ruled herself out of the contest, saying she would rather play a "supporting role" than be leader. |
| She told presenter Gary Robertson: "I believe we should have a very open contest and I look forward to a number of different names emerging, be they MPs, MSPs or indeed MEPs, who are entitled to stand as well. | She told presenter Gary Robertson: "I believe we should have a very open contest and I look forward to a number of different names emerging, be they MPs, MSPs or indeed MEPs, who are entitled to stand as well. |
| "But I think it would be really helpful to have a debate in the party where we have quite a lengthy nominations process that tries to balance a speedy transition, but yet a clear desire for the members to have their voice heard. | "But I think it would be really helpful to have a debate in the party where we have quite a lengthy nominations process that tries to balance a speedy transition, but yet a clear desire for the members to have their voice heard. |
| "I think you will see a number of people coming forward in the coming days and I look forward to that very much." | "I think you will see a number of people coming forward in the coming days and I look forward to that very much." |
| For the best | |
| After standing down, Ms Lamont accused the UK Labour Party of treating Scotland like a "branch office". | After standing down, Ms Lamont accused the UK Labour Party of treating Scotland like a "branch office". |
| In her resignation letter, the 56-year-old said senior members of the party had "questioned" her place and that she was taking herself "out of the equation" so it could decide the best way forward. | In her resignation letter, the 56-year-old said senior members of the party had "questioned" her place and that she was taking herself "out of the equation" so it could decide the best way forward. |
| In an earlier interview with the Daily Record, Ms Lamont branded some of her Westminster colleagues as "dinosaurs". | In an earlier interview with the Daily Record, Ms Lamont branded some of her Westminster colleagues as "dinosaurs". |