Following Johann Lamont’s sensational resignation from the leadership of Scottish Labour, many political commentators suggest the party is in disarray.
Candidates for leadership will be invited to declare their candidacy from today. MPs, MSPs and MEPs nominations will open on Friday 31st October and close on Tuesday 4th November. The ballot commences Monday 17th November and the new leader will be announced on Saturday 13th December.
Speaking following the meeting of the executive held in Glasgow yesterday, Chair of the Scottish Labour Party, Jamie Glackin said:
“The Scottish Executive Committee agreed unanimously on the timetable and process for electing a new leader to take the Scottish Labour Party forward.
“I am pleased the timetable will balance the need for a speedy transition with the clear desire among members to both make their voice heard and hear the prospective cases from the candidates for leader.”
“A number of events will be held across Scotland before Scottish Labour’s new leader is announced on December 13th and I look forward to working with whoever the new leader is to take forward Labour values into Government in 2015 and 2016.”
Anas Sarwar MP, Interim Leader of the Scottish Labour Party said, “Johann Lamont’s decision to put the interests of the Labour Party and the Labour movement ahead of her own shows once again her selflessness.”
“When the Scottish Labour Party needed someone to step up, the person who answered the call was Johann Lamont. Johann lifted the party when it needed it most, led the party to success in the 2012 Council elections, to by-election wins and, most importantly, to a successful referendum result which saw over 2 million people vote to remain part of the UK.”
“I want to thank Johann for all the support and advice she has given me over the past three years. I am clear she will continue to pursue with great vigour the causes close to her heart, causes which brought her into politics in the first place.”
“The Scottish Labour Party will now consider and set out in due course the process for electing a new leader as we continue to work to return a Labour Government at the General Election in 2015 and in the Scottish Parliament elections in 2016.”
“In the interim we will also not lose sight of the fact that under the Tories and the SNP inequality is rising, the number of children in poverty is going up, Scotland’s NHS is in crisis and college places are being cut and we will continue to hold both Governments to account.”
Meantime some are mooting the possibility of Edinburgh Northern and Leith MSP, Malcolm Chisholm as a caretaker leader.
@BBCRadioScot Ian Bell recommends Malcolm Chisholm
— Donald Mackay (@dbbaye) October 27, 2014
Although Mr Chisholm may have his own ideas:
Malcolm Chisholm says he will try to persuade reluctant Kezia Dugdale to stand for Scottish Labour leader. #bbccrossfire.
— Iain Macwhirter (@iainmacwhirter) October 26, 2014
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