Burnham allies back Monica Lennon for Scottish Labour leader

Mainstream, the soft-left group backed by Andy Burnham, has endorsed Monica Lennon in the Scottish Labour leadership election. Lennon received near-unanimous support from the group’s Scottish members – 83 per cent, according to a survey.

The race was triggered following the resignation of Anas Sarwar, who was appointed a trade minister in Andy Burnham’s new government (Sarwar was given a life peerage to take up the role). Lennon, who lost her Holyrood seat in the May elections, took Sarwar’s place as an MSP for the Glasgow Region in July, as she was the next candidate on the party’s regional list. This is the second time she has thrown her hat in the ring for the Scottish Labour leadership, having been defeated by Sarwar in the 2021 election. The party won its lowest number of seats on record in the May elections, winning just 17 seats out of 129. 

Lennon is seen as the left-wing candidate in the race and has previously advocated for Scottish Labour to break away from the national party (though she rolled back on this position after announcing her intention to run for the leadership in July).

Candidates must be nominated by three Scottish Labour MPs, three Labour MSPs and three affiliated organisations of which two must be trade unions. Lennon’s opponents – Michael Marra, the shadow finance minister and close ally of Anas Sarwar, and Joe Fagan, the former leader of South Lanarkshire Council – have both received the required nominations from Scottish Labour MPs and MSPs to make it onto the ballot. Lennon has currently received two of each (one of which is herself). 

Notably, however, Lennon has received support from key Labour unions – her candidacy been endorsed by Unison, and Unite is also expected to back her for leader. One source with knowledge of the race said this reflected a worrying divide between MPs and MSPs and unions.

Nominations close on Monday 17 August, after which it will be clear whether Lennon has made it onto the ballot or not. Voting will be open between 28 August to 17 September, with Sarwar’s replacement due to be in place before the party’s annual conference on 19 September.