This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-29830363
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Scottish Labour leadership: Murphy talks unity as battle to win begins | Scottish Labour leadership: Murphy talks unity as battle to win begins |
(35 minutes later) | |
To many people in Scotland, Jim Murphy is that tall, lean politician who ran into the Clutha bar to help survivors of a helicopter crash. | To many people in Scotland, Jim Murphy is that tall, lean politician who ran into the Clutha bar to help survivors of a helicopter crash. |
To be fair, he has never attempted to trade on the image in any way. | To be fair, he has never attempted to trade on the image in any way. |
On that dark November night, his shirt still stained with blood, he repeatedly asked me not to paint him as a hero, insisting others had done much more to help. | On that dark November night, his shirt still stained with blood, he repeatedly asked me not to paint him as a hero, insisting others had done much more to help. |
But his actions do suggest that the affable, softly-spoken, football fan has a steely core. | But his actions do suggest that the affable, softly-spoken, football fan has a steely core. |
It could be detected again today. | It could be detected again today. |
If elected as leader, he insisted, he would be in complete control of the party in Scotland. | If elected as leader, he insisted, he would be in complete control of the party in Scotland. |
"That's the way it's going to be," he said, simply, adding that he would make it clear to UK Labour leader Ed Miliband that he was boss north of the border. | "That's the way it's going to be," he said, simply, adding that he would make it clear to UK Labour leader Ed Miliband that he was boss north of the border. |
But will he win the contest? | But will he win the contest? |
Mr Murphy is certainly popular in his well-heeled constituency of East Renfrewshire where he has spent his career turning a safe Tory seat into a redoubt for Labour. | Mr Murphy is certainly popular in his well-heeled constituency of East Renfrewshire where he has spent his career turning a safe Tory seat into a redoubt for Labour. |
It is a lesson in how to appeal to the centre, to win over non-traditional voters to the Labour cause. | It is a lesson in how to appeal to the centre, to win over non-traditional voters to the Labour cause. |
He has done so by steering clear of the policies of the hard-left. | He has done so by steering clear of the policies of the hard-left. |
The 47-year-old was a loyal supporter of Tony Blair, voting for the Iraq war and university tuition fees. | The 47-year-old was a loyal supporter of Tony Blair, voting for the Iraq war and university tuition fees. |
But to win this election, Mr Murphy knows he will need to appeal to all sections of the party. | But to win this election, Mr Murphy knows he will need to appeal to all sections of the party. |
And so, his rhetoric today is all about unity. | And so, his rhetoric today is all about unity. |
He is not interested in Old Labour or New Labour, left-wing Labour or right-wing Labour, he says. | He is not interested in Old Labour or New Labour, left-wing Labour or right-wing Labour, he says. |
He is interested in "losing Labour" and in "ending that period of Labour losing in Scotland." | He is interested in "losing Labour" and in "ending that period of Labour losing in Scotland." |
Stand again | Stand again |
Mr Murphy says he will seek election to Holyrood in 2016, if not before. In the meantime he will stand again for Westminster at the general election. | Mr Murphy says he will seek election to Holyrood in 2016, if not before. In the meantime he will stand again for Westminster at the general election. |
He describes the strategy as "one election at a time" but concedes that "my career and my working life in the House of Commons and in London is coming to an end." | He describes the strategy as "one election at a time" but concedes that "my career and my working life in the House of Commons and in London is coming to an end." |
It seems a strange statement for someone about to seek re-election. | It seems a strange statement for someone about to seek re-election. |
But Mr Murphy does have a rather comfortable buffer in East Renfrewshire, a majority in 2010 of 10,420 with the Conservatives in second place and the SNP trailing well behind the Liberal Democrats. | But Mr Murphy does have a rather comfortable buffer in East Renfrewshire, a majority in 2010 of 10,420 with the Conservatives in second place and the SNP trailing well behind the Liberal Democrats. |
Increasingly, he argues, Edinburgh will be the "centre of political attention." | Increasingly, he argues, Edinburgh will be the "centre of political attention." |
"That's where the action is and it's where I want to be," says Mr Murphy. | "That's where the action is and it's where I want to be," says Mr Murphy. |
Whether or not he is successful will depend on a complicated, unpredictable system known as the electoral college which the party is in the process of ditching for UK leadership elections. | Whether or not he is successful will depend on a complicated, unpredictable system known as the electoral college which the party is in the process of ditching for UK leadership elections. |
The winning candidate must secure support from an electorate in thirds..... | The winning candidate must secure support from an electorate in thirds..... |
Nominations for the leadership close on Tuesday, voting begins on Monday 17 November and the new leader should be formally elected on Saturday 13 December. | Nominations for the leadership close on Tuesday, voting begins on Monday 17 November and the new leader should be formally elected on Saturday 13 December. |
Mr Murphy is certainly talking the talk. By Christmas we will know whether he is also walking the walk. | Mr Murphy is certainly talking the talk. By Christmas we will know whether he is also walking the walk. |