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Four steps to becoming Scottish Labour Party leader Four steps to becoming Scottish Labour Party leader
(about 3 hours later)
STEP ONE - Get nominatedSTEP ONE - Get nominated
Nominations officially open on Friday, 31 October, but candidates are expected to declare their intentions to stand from today onwards.Nominations officially open on Friday, 31 October, but candidates are expected to declare their intentions to stand from today onwards.
They have to get their nomination in by Tuesday, 4th November.They have to get their nomination in by Tuesday, 4th November.
Now, in order to be nominated you have to get the support of at least one eighth of Scottish Labour parliamentarians - that is all MPs, MSPs and MEPs and given there are 81 at the moment I think that means you have to get the support of 11 of them.Now, in order to be nominated you have to get the support of at least one eighth of Scottish Labour parliamentarians - that is all MPs, MSPs and MEPs and given there are 81 at the moment I think that means you have to get the support of 11 of them.
That 11 has to include parliamentarians from at least two of the three institutions. Therefore, for all practical purposes you've got to at least get some support at Holyrood and at Westminster.That 11 has to include parliamentarians from at least two of the three institutions. Therefore, for all practical purposes you've got to at least get some support at Holyrood and at Westminster.
STEP TWO - Understand the systemSTEP TWO - Understand the system
After nominations we turn to the matter of the hustings and the ballot.After nominations we turn to the matter of the hustings and the ballot.
The ballot is conducted through the Labour electoral college.The ballot is conducted through the Labour electoral college.
It's NOT being done under the one-member-one vote system that Ed Miliband forced through for the UK leadership.It's NOT being done under the one-member-one vote system that Ed Miliband forced through for the UK leadership.
There are two explanations for this - one being they didn't change the rules for the Scottish Labour leadership when they changed the rules for the UK leadership, and the second reason is that actually the procedures that are required to implement the new UK rules are not yet in place.There are two explanations for this - one being they didn't change the rules for the Scottish Labour leadership when they changed the rules for the UK leadership, and the second reason is that actually the procedures that are required to implement the new UK rules are not yet in place.
And why not? Well, that's because it is going to require members of trade unions to declare if they want to become individual members of the Labour Party and that process, believe it or not, doesn't actually start until the next calendar year.And why not? Well, that's because it is going to require members of trade unions to declare if they want to become individual members of the Labour Party and that process, believe it or not, doesn't actually start until the next calendar year.
So, even if Mr Miliband were to resign tomorrow, we might still be talking about the electoral college.So, even if Mr Miliband were to resign tomorrow, we might still be talking about the electoral college.
STEP THREE - Have friends in lots of placesSTEP THREE - Have friends in lots of places
There are in effect three separate ballots which are each worth a third of the vote.There are in effect three separate ballots which are each worth a third of the vote.
One third of the vote goes to all of those parliamentarians (that's 81 from Strasbourg, Holyrood and Westminster).One third of the vote goes to all of those parliamentarians (that's 81 from Strasbourg, Holyrood and Westminster).
One third goes to the members of the party in Scotland and one third goes to those who are members of affiliated trade unions and affiliated societies - but in those organisations they have to conduct an individual level ballot.One third goes to the members of the party in Scotland and one third goes to those who are members of affiliated trade unions and affiliated societies - but in those organisations they have to conduct an individual level ballot.
It is not the days of the union block vote, Unite for example will have to ballot their members in Scotland and then their vote will be distributed according to how they vote.It is not the days of the union block vote, Unite for example will have to ballot their members in Scotland and then their vote will be distributed according to how they vote.
So, that is how it will work out. It does, therefore, mean that for example there is no guarantee that the winner will have the majority support of the parliamentarians or not necessary the majority support of the membership. So, that is how it will work out. It does, therefore, mean that for example there is no guarantee that the winner will have the majority support of the parliamentarians, or the majority support of the membership.
Whoever is going to emerge is going to have to be somebody who certainly has quite good support among the trade unions; has to appeal to the membership but also has to appeal to parliamentarians.Whoever is going to emerge is going to have to be somebody who certainly has quite good support among the trade unions; has to appeal to the membership but also has to appeal to parliamentarians.
STEP FOUR - Get elected to Holyrood (if required)STEP FOUR - Get elected to Holyrood (if required)
There is a potential difficulty if the leader turns out to be an MP. Will there not be dissent at Holyrood if the leader turns out to be an MSP?
Firstly, that person would have the respect and authority over Westminster MPs, but secondly, they would then be saying "what do we need to do here for me to be elected to Holyrood"? Not necessarily. Firstly, that person would have the respect and authority over Westminster MPs, but secondly, they would then be saying "what do we need to do here for me to be elected to Holyrood"?
And to that extent, ironically, it may be that an MP is required to bind the wounds of the party together - as long as that MP said: "Yes I am running the party in Scotland and yes I am going to focus, not just on rescuing the party's seats at Westminster in May 2015, but to try to find a winning strategy for May 2016."And to that extent, ironically, it may be that an MP is required to bind the wounds of the party together - as long as that MP said: "Yes I am running the party in Scotland and yes I am going to focus, not just on rescuing the party's seats at Westminster in May 2015, but to try to find a winning strategy for May 2016."
Current opinion polls suggest that both of those are not inconsiderable tasks at the moment.Current opinion polls suggest that both of those are not inconsiderable tasks at the moment.
.... and here's the caveat.... and here's the caveat
All of the above assumes that we do actually have a contest.All of the above assumes that we do actually have a contest.
And in a sense, probably the first move in this game of chess is that Gordon Brown is going to have to tell us pretty soon whether he is, or is not a potential candidate.And in a sense, probably the first move in this game of chess is that Gordon Brown is going to have to tell us pretty soon whether he is, or is not a potential candidate.
There is no doubt that he is under pressure to stand, there is no doubt that there is a widespread feeling that he helped to rescue the "No" referendum campaign and there is a widespread feeling that the truth is that frankly who can do the job, who is available?There is no doubt that he is under pressure to stand, there is no doubt that there is a widespread feeling that he helped to rescue the "No" referendum campaign and there is a widespread feeling that the truth is that frankly who can do the job, who is available?
Apart from Jim Murphy MP, who is the other person who crowned himself with a relative degree of glory in the "No" campaign, people are struggling to see who might be willing to stand and be capable of the doing the job.Apart from Jim Murphy MP, who is the other person who crowned himself with a relative degree of glory in the "No" campaign, people are struggling to see who might be willing to stand and be capable of the doing the job.
The point is if Mr Brown were to decide to stand it may be that we don't have a contest in exactly the same way he became the UK leader - without a contest. The point is if Mr Brown were to decide to stand it may be that we don't have a contest exactly. He might become Scottish leader in the same way that he became the UK leader - without anyone daring to stand against him..