My Statement on the Scottish Labour Leadership

Scottish Labour is stuck in the past. We are not listening to all of our members, the wider movement that built us or the millions of Scots who won’t vote for us.

This leadership contest should have been a wide debate, rooted in courage, humility and the imagination to become a modern political party for workers and working class communities in Scotland.

Our values mean nothing without vision, conviction and committed action.

We must be a party where people can believe in fair work and a healthy planet; where women’s rights and LGBTQ rights are a shared struggle; where engaging in debate about Scotland’s place in the UK and the global community is a strength, not a weakness.

My leadership offer was not positional. Not limited to a new name above the door. Our movement wants an inclusive, progressive and unapologetically socialist recovery. I am grateful to have significant backing from our movement, including Unite, Unison Labour Link Scotland, the CWU, the Scottish Co-operative Party, Mainstream, the Campaign for Socialism, Disability Labour, the Socialist Health Association Scotland, SERA - Labour’s environment campaign, local parties, councillors and parliamentary colleagues who backed my bid for a battle of ideas.

The soul-searching continues but my message to the leadership candidates is this: Scotland’s young people deserve a Scottish Labour Party who will stand up to billionaires and the wealthy elite. Their future is on the line. Our planet is burning and hope is fading. Punching down on trans people and other minorities is not acceptable. Do better, lead with decency and act with courage. Then, and only then, will there be a viable Scottish Labour Party worthy of the support of the people of Scotland.”