Jim Murphy To Run For Scottish Labour Leadership

Labour‘s Jim Murphy has confirmed he will stand for the leadership of the Scottish Labour Party.

The shadow international development secretary is the third person to join the leadership race after MSPs Neil Findlay and Sarah Boyack.

They have confirmed they will stand to replace former leader Johann Lamont, who announced her shock resignation on Friday.

Breaking a silence of almost a week since Ms Lamont’s resignation, he told the Daily Record he had decided to stand so he can fight for the job of first minister.

“I think it is time for a fresh start for the Scottish Labour party,” he said. “I am proud of the Labour Party and I am proud of Scotland – but I am not satisfied.

“I want to strike a tone that stops the Scottish Labour Party from committing self harm. I want to unite the Labour Party but more importantly I want to bring the country back together after the referendum.

“I am not going to shout at or about the SNP, I am going to talk to and listen to Scotland and I am very clear that the job I am applying for is to be the First Minister of Scotland.”

Jon Craig, Sky’s chief political correspondent, said: “While his decision to stand will delight senior Labour MPs at Westminster, who want a ‘big hitter’ to take on the SNP, it threatens to trigger a civil war between the party in London and some MSPs and activists in Scotland.”

Former prime minister Gordon Brown and interim leader Anas Sarwar  have ruled themselves out of the running.

Mr Sarwar, considered one of the favourites for the job, said he will focus instead on the process of finding a replacement for Ms Lamont.

Rising stars of the party Jenny Marra and Kezia Dugdale have also said they will not stand.

Shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander remains a possible contender. 

After stepping down, Ms Lamont directed a stinging attack at her colleagues in Westminster, saying the UK Labour Party was out of touch with politics in Scotland.

The MSP accused Ed Miliband’s leadership team of trying to run Scotland “like a branch office from London”.

Alex Salmond, who will step down as First Minister next month, has also accused Mr Miliband of being responsible for the “meltdown” of Scottish Labour.

Mr Murphy played a key role in Labour’s No campaign ahead of the Scottish referendum, visiting 100 towns in a 100-day tour of Scotland.

Jim Murphy To Run For Scottish Labour Leadership