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-29862067
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Jim Murphy apologises to Scottish voters for Labour failings | Jim Murphy apologises to Scottish voters for Labour failings |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A candidate for the Scottish Labour leadership has apologised to voters for the party's failings. | A candidate for the Scottish Labour leadership has apologised to voters for the party's failings. |
| Jim Murphy admitted that a "lack of vision" and not listening to voters had led to the party being rejected in previous elections. | Jim Murphy admitted that a "lack of vision" and not listening to voters had led to the party being rejected in previous elections. |
| MSPs Sarah Boyack and Neil Findlay are also standing in the contest to replace Johann Lamont, who quit last Friday. | MSPs Sarah Boyack and Neil Findlay are also standing in the contest to replace Johann Lamont, who quit last Friday. |
| Meanwhile, North Ayrshire and Arran MP Katy Clark has become the first person to enter the deputy leadership contest. | Meanwhile, North Ayrshire and Arran MP Katy Clark has become the first person to enter the deputy leadership contest. |
| Confirming her intention to stand on Saturday morning, Ms Clark said: "We must recognise that Scottish politics has changed and it can't be business as usual. | Confirming her intention to stand on Saturday morning, Ms Clark said: "We must recognise that Scottish politics has changed and it can't be business as usual. |
| "The vast majority of people want a secure job, a decent home and access to good quality public services. This is prevented for too many by wealth being held in the hands of a minority. | "The vast majority of people want a secure job, a decent home and access to good quality public services. This is prevented for too many by wealth being held in the hands of a minority. |
| "It is unacceptable in the 21st century that people have to queue at a foodbank to feed their children. These are the issues I will be addressing throughout the campaign." | "It is unacceptable in the 21st century that people have to queue at a foodbank to feed their children. These are the issues I will be addressing throughout the campaign." |
| 'Branch office' | 'Branch office' |
| The deputy leadership role became vacant when Anas Sarwar followed Ms Lamont in stepping down. | The deputy leadership role became vacant when Anas Sarwar followed Ms Lamont in stepping down. |
| Ms Lamont accused the Labour Party of treating Scotland as a "branch office" when she resigned - a charge that has been rejected by its UK leader Ed Miliband. | Ms Lamont accused the Labour Party of treating Scotland as a "branch office" when she resigned - a charge that has been rejected by its UK leader Ed Miliband. |
| On Thursday, opinion polls by Ipsos/Mori and YouGov suggested Labour faces the prospect of losing the vast majority of its Scottish seats to the SNP in next May's general election. | On Thursday, opinion polls by Ipsos/Mori and YouGov suggested Labour faces the prospect of losing the vast majority of its Scottish seats to the SNP in next May's general election. |
| Data from the YouGov poll released on Saturday also suggested that Scotland would vote "Yes" to independence if another referendum were held today - just six weeks after a majority voted "No". | Data from the YouGov poll released on Saturday also suggested that Scotland would vote "Yes" to independence if another referendum were held today - just six weeks after a majority voted "No". |
| The poll put support for independence at 52% compared with 48% in favour of the Union once undecided voters were excluded. | The poll put support for independence at 52% compared with 48% in favour of the Union once undecided voters were excluded. |
| Speaking as he formally launched his leadership campaign in Edinburgh on Saturday, Mr Murphy said he believed Labour had failed to listen to voters who rejected the party in the 2007 and 2011 Holyrood elections. | Speaking as he formally launched his leadership campaign in Edinburgh on Saturday, Mr Murphy said he believed Labour had failed to listen to voters who rejected the party in the 2007 and 2011 Holyrood elections. |
| And he acknowledged that the party had to change if it was to turn around its fortunes. | And he acknowledged that the party had to change if it was to turn around its fortunes. |
| He said: "The Scottish people want change - they couldn't be clearer. They also want better and many want Labour to be part of that improvement. | He said: "The Scottish people want change - they couldn't be clearer. They also want better and many want Labour to be part of that improvement. |
| "But when they look at us they think we've not listened. It sure looks like that from where they sit, so who can blame them? | "But when they look at us they think we've not listened. It sure looks like that from where they sit, so who can blame them? |
| "I want to apologise because twice Scots have said they didn't think we were good enough to govern in Scotland - in 2007 and 2011. We didn't listen to them. That has to change." | "I want to apologise because twice Scots have said they didn't think we were good enough to govern in Scotland - in 2007 and 2011. We didn't listen to them. That has to change." |
| Mr Murphy said he wanted a Labour Party that was as "proud and confident as the country we seek to govern" and that he wanted people to feel "passion and pride" in voting for it. | Mr Murphy said he wanted a Labour Party that was as "proud and confident as the country we seek to govern" and that he wanted people to feel "passion and pride" in voting for it. |
| But he admitted: "For that to happen I know that I have to apologise because too many Scots thought we weren't up to the job in the past. | But he admitted: "For that to happen I know that I have to apologise because too many Scots thought we weren't up to the job in the past. |
| "It's not our ideals that are out of kilter with Scotland. Scots have backed us to run the UK. All of our previous Scottish Labour Party leaders are proud and passionate servants of our party and our country. | "It's not our ideals that are out of kilter with Scotland. Scots have backed us to run the UK. All of our previous Scottish Labour Party leaders are proud and passionate servants of our party and our country. |
| "Scots back us to run many of Scotland's great cities. | "Scots back us to run many of Scotland's great cities. |
| "Let's be honest, it's our vision for Scotland. Or more truthfully our lack of vision. We have been rejected and now we need to change." | "Let's be honest, it's our vision for Scotland. Or more truthfully our lack of vision. We have been rejected and now we need to change." |
| Mr Murphy, the former Scottish secretary and current shadow for international development, is the bookmakers' favourite for the leadership role. | Mr Murphy, the former Scottish secretary and current shadow for international development, is the bookmakers' favourite for the leadership role. |
| 'Somewhat opportunistic' | 'Somewhat opportunistic' |
| The East Renfrewshire MP is seen as being on the political right of the party, with some colleagues concerned about his support for Tony Blair, nuclear weapons and the Iraq war. | The East Renfrewshire MP is seen as being on the political right of the party, with some colleagues concerned about his support for Tony Blair, nuclear weapons and the Iraq war. |
| In a speech three years ago, Mr Murphy said that Labour should "avoid the quicksand of continual apology" and that it "won't win next time by joining others in claiming how bad Labour was last time". | |
| SNP MSP Sandra White described Mr Murphy's apology to voters as "somewhat opportunistic" and called for him to instead say sorry for backing the invasion of Iraq in 2003. | |
| She added: "Iraq is a much more significant matter than Labour's poor record in Scotland, given the appalling loss of life and damage it has done to the region and wider international system. | She added: "Iraq is a much more significant matter than Labour's poor record in Scotland, given the appalling loss of life and damage it has done to the region and wider international system. |
| "People in Scotland time and again made clear their opposition to the illegal Iraq war that Jim Murphy's vote helped to usher in." | "People in Scotland time and again made clear their opposition to the illegal Iraq war that Jim Murphy's vote helped to usher in." |
| And Bob Thomson, a former chairman of Scottish Labour who campaigned in favour of independence ahead of the referendum, said he did not believe Mr Murphy was the right man for the job. | And Bob Thomson, a former chairman of Scottish Labour who campaigned in favour of independence ahead of the referendum, said he did not believe Mr Murphy was the right man for the job. |
| He told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme: "I would back Neil Findlay because of his record. I think as a health spokesman he has been very good and I think he has got the things he has been saying correct with Labour voters. | He told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme: "I would back Neil Findlay because of his record. I think as a health spokesman he has been very good and I think he has got the things he has been saying correct with Labour voters. |
| "I think the radical agenda he has spelt out is one - we have not been radical enough, we have not connected with what I think voters are looking for." | "I think the radical agenda he has spelt out is one - we have not been radical enough, we have not connected with what I think voters are looking for." |
| Mr Findlay announced his intention to stand earlier this week. | Mr Findlay announced his intention to stand earlier this week. |
| He said he wants to work for progressive change and "create a fairer, more equal and prosperous Scotland". | He said he wants to work for progressive change and "create a fairer, more equal and prosperous Scotland". |
| "If elected Labour leader, I will put the issue of social justice at the heart of everything we do - this is the historic mission of the Scottish Labour Party but it also has to be about what we deliver for the Scottish people in this post-referendum period," Mr Findlay said. | "If elected Labour leader, I will put the issue of social justice at the heart of everything we do - this is the historic mission of the Scottish Labour Party but it also has to be about what we deliver for the Scottish people in this post-referendum period," Mr Findlay said. |
| Ms Boyack co-chaired the review of Scottish Labour with Mr Murphy in 2011, which was designed to make the Scottish leader head of the entire party in Scotland, including MPs, MSPs, MEPs and officials. | Ms Boyack co-chaired the review of Scottish Labour with Mr Murphy in 2011, which was designed to make the Scottish leader head of the entire party in Scotland, including MPs, MSPs, MEPs and officials. |
| She announced her intention to stand on Tuesday. | She announced her intention to stand on Tuesday. |
| She said: "Scottish Labour is going to be the key party in the run-up to the UK elections. It's absolutely crucial that we get an Ed Miliband government elected. | She said: "Scottish Labour is going to be the key party in the run-up to the UK elections. It's absolutely crucial that we get an Ed Miliband government elected. |
| "So, that's why I believe in putting my name forward. I can work with colleagues and I can take that debate forward. That is the key thing. | "So, that's why I believe in putting my name forward. I can work with colleagues and I can take that debate forward. That is the key thing. |
| "I did the review of the Labour Party just a couple of years ago. There's unfinished business there. | "I did the review of the Labour Party just a couple of years ago. There's unfinished business there. |
| "But the key thing is, what does the Labour Party stand for, how can we work together and how can we support people around the country?" | "But the key thing is, what does the Labour Party stand for, how can we work together and how can we support people around the country?" |