This article is from the source 'guardian' 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.theguardian.com/politics/2015/aug/14/scottish-labour-leadership-i-can-still-beat-kezia-dugdale-says-ken-macintosh

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Scottish Labour leadership: I can still beat Kezia Dugdale, says Ken Macintosh Scottish Labour leadership: I can still beat Kezia Dugdale, says Ken Macintosh
(about 2 hours later)
Related: Labour MSP Ken Macintosh launches his leadership campaignRelated: Labour MSP Ken Macintosh launches his leadership campaign
Ken Macintosh, the underdog in the race to become leader of the Scottish Labour party, has insisted the contest remains wide open despite expectations he will be defeated heavily by his rival Kezia Dugdale.Ken Macintosh, the underdog in the race to become leader of the Scottish Labour party, has insisted the contest remains wide open despite expectations he will be defeated heavily by his rival Kezia Dugdale.
The fast-tracked contest to succeed Jim Murphy as Scottish party leader closes at midday on Friday with Dugdale, who served as Murphy’s deputy until his resignation in June, widely seen as the runaway favourite to win.The fast-tracked contest to succeed Jim Murphy as Scottish party leader closes at midday on Friday with Dugdale, who served as Murphy’s deputy until his resignation in June, widely seen as the runaway favourite to win.
With results due to be announced in Stirling on Saturday morning, Macintosh said his campaign’s canvassing returns put him narrowly ahead, with the latest batch of pledges from previously undecided voters also giving him the edge over Dugdale.With results due to be announced in Stirling on Saturday morning, Macintosh said his campaign’s canvassing returns put him narrowly ahead, with the latest batch of pledges from previously undecided voters also giving him the edge over Dugdale.
Macintosh’s stance contradicts the widely held view that Dugdale will win comfortably after being endorsed by the Scottish party’s senior figures, including her close ally Ian Murray, Labour’s only Scottish MP, a majority of constituency parties and most MSPs.Macintosh’s stance contradicts the widely held view that Dugdale will win comfortably after being endorsed by the Scottish party’s senior figures, including her close ally Ian Murray, Labour’s only Scottish MP, a majority of constituency parties and most MSPs.
The party is also due to select its new Scottish deputy leader, with three candidates in the running.The party is also due to select its new Scottish deputy leader, with three candidates in the running.
That is seen as a far more open contest, with senior party figures unsure who amongst Alex Rowley, an MSP and former Fife council leader who is backed by the major unions, Gordon Matheson, currently leader of Glasgow city council and Richard Baker MSP, backed by many Labour MSPs, will win on Saturday. That is seen as a far more open contest, with senior party figures unsure who among Alex Rowley, an MSP and former Fife council leader who is backed by the major unions, Gordon Matheson, currently leader of Glasgow city council, and Richard Baker MSP, backed by many Labour MSPs, will win on Saturday.
Related: Kezia Dugdale: Corbyn win could leave Labour 'carping on sidelines'Related: Kezia Dugdale: Corbyn win could leave Labour 'carping on sidelines'
Macintosh, one of the few Scottish Labour MSPs to hold a constituency seat after the Scottish National party’s landslide Holyrood election victory under Alex Salmond in 2011, said this was the first Scottish party leadership election using one member one vote – a factor favouring candidates able to win over rank and file supporters. Macintosh, one of the few Scottish Labour MSPs to hold a constituency seat after the Scottish National party’s landslide Holyrood election victory under Alex Salmond in 2011, said this was the first Scottish party leadership election using one member one vote – a factor favouring candidates able to win over rank-and-file supporters.
There were nearly 22,000 people registered to vote for the Scottish leader when registration for that contest closed three weeks ago – a jump of more than 5,000 since the election contest began. That surge partly reflected the leap in support since Jeremy Corbyn’s UK leadership campaign gathered momentum.There were nearly 22,000 people registered to vote for the Scottish leader when registration for that contest closed three weeks ago – a jump of more than 5,000 since the election contest began. That surge partly reflected the leap in support since Jeremy Corbyn’s UK leadership campaign gathered momentum.
Party insiders believe that surge reflects the active mobilisation by trade unions of their members to register with Labour for the UK leaders contest, with a result due to be declared in September. But that number of individual votes, including new members, undermined the established theory that CLPs, unions and MSPs could dominate an election, Macintosh said. Party insiders believe that surge reflects the active mobilisation by trade unions of their members to register with Labour for the UK leaders contest, with a result due to be declared in September. But the number of individual votes, including new members, undermined the established theory that CLPs, unions and MSPs could dominate an election, Macintosh said.
It was “utter nonsense” to believe Dugdale would win heavily. He acknowledged that his canvassers told Labour members they were calling from Macintosh’s team, but insisted: “This is wide open simply based on the number of undecideds at this stage.”It was “utter nonsense” to believe Dugdale would win heavily. He acknowledged that his canvassers told Labour members they were calling from Macintosh’s team, but insisted: “This is wide open simply based on the number of undecideds at this stage.”
He added: “Everything about my politics is about my own integrity, it’s about putting the people first, before the party, and it’s about putting consensus first, and about devolving power within the party in Scotland. I know my message goes down well and every time people have heard it, I know that people come to me.”He added: “Everything about my politics is about my own integrity, it’s about putting the people first, before the party, and it’s about putting consensus first, and about devolving power within the party in Scotland. I know my message goes down well and every time people have heard it, I know that people come to me.”
Speaking as she prepared for the final day of campaigning, Dugdale said she represented a fresh start – a signal that Macintosh, who was first elected to Holyrood in 1999, while she arrived there in 2011, was part of the old guard.Speaking as she prepared for the final day of campaigning, Dugdale said she represented a fresh start – a signal that Macintosh, who was first elected to Holyrood in 1999, while she arrived there in 2011, was part of the old guard.
“If I win this election it will be a clear signal of a new generation ready to take Scottish Labour forward,” she said. “The role of the next leader is to set out a positive Labour vision for transforming Scotland and to hold the SNP Government to account for their major failings on schools, the NHS and policing. “If I win this election it will be a clear signal of a new generation ready to take Scottish Labour forward,” she said. “The role of the next leader is to set out a positive Labour vision for transforming Scotland and to hold the SNP government to account for their major failings on schools, the NHS and policing.
“Too many people in Scotland tell us that they just don’t know what Labour stands for anymore. Under my leadership there will be no doubt what we stand for and who we stand with.” “Too many people in Scotland tell us that they just don’t know what Labour stands for any more. Under my leadership there will be no doubt what we stand for and who we stand with.”