New Labour leader told: forget about Alex Salmond
Johann Lamont is favourite to succeed former Labour leader Iain Gray. Picture: Neil Hanna
FORMER First Minister Henry McLeish has told the incoming Labour leader to forget about Alex Salmond if the party is to win back the “tens of thousands” of voters who have turned their back on it.
The new Labour leader will be announced today, seven months after Iain Gray announced he was stepping down from the job in light of the disastrous Holyrood election defeat.
Current deputy leader Johann Lamont was favourite last night to succeed Mr Gray, with Eastwood MSP Ken Macintosh also in contention. The third candidate, MP Tom Harris is now out of the running.
For the first time, whoever is elected to succeed him will head the party across the country rather than just in Holyrood. The change follows a widespread review into party structures north of the Border and is aimed at distancing the Scottish leader from Westminster control. It also opens the way for MPs and MEPs to hold senior positions.
Mr McLeish, who succeeded the late Donald Dewar as party leader in 2001, said the victor must focus on Labour’s vision for the future.
He said: “I believe out there, there are tens of thousands of people who want to vote Labour but currently see no good reason for doing it.
“There are still fundamental issues about the constitution, about the economy, about education, about health, that we’ve got to grapple. But my main plea is: let’s forget about what the SNP are saying and let’s actually focus on a Labour party that’s positive, a Labour party that’s going forward.”
More than 300,000 ballot papers were sent out last month, with members of the party, affiliated trade unions and other organisations all given a say in who the new leader should be.
Voting in the contest closed on Wednesday and the result will be declared in Edinburgh.
Mr McLeish added: “We have to answer the question of what does Labour stand for in an era of remarkable change.
“Labour doesn’t have a vision currently. The party has got to be enthusiastically Scottish and to no longer look over its shoulder to Westminster.
“There is so much unfairness in society, with high pay for chief executives as just one example. Labour has got to confront these ethical questions through its policies. I would like to think that the new leader will not get caught up in the gladiatorial battle of First Minister’s questions every week.
“There are bigger issues and I’d expect the leader to be out and about in Scotland more talking to people and campaigning.
“Alex Salmond is a formidable politician and it will be very difficult to get the upper hand. I wouldn’t want the new Scottish Labour leader to be frustrated if this doesn’t happen. Alex Salmond is beatable, but there’s more to political life that and the new leader should not put all her political eggs in one basket.
“There will be occasions, when the new leader can undermine Alex Salmond at First Minister’s questions. If the new leader can make hits then she should do it, but she shouldn’t make it her reason for living.”
The party is facing a “challenging set of local elections next year” when the SNP is expected to target Labour-dominated Glasgow in the poll to elect Scotland’s 32 councils, Mr McLeish added. He insisted the party can hold on to the city, adding: “People in Glasgow want to vote Labour.”
The former First Minister warned that the new leader cannot hide from the “constitutional question” as he called on the party to call for more powers for Holyrood to “pursue social justice”.
He said: “I have a position that ‘devo max’ is the way to go forward and I hope there is support for that in the party in Scotland. But either way we need to have a debate about more powers for the Scottish Parliament.
“There is a real threat and danger to the party. There’s a danger during the next five years that if the SNP continues with populist policies, but with an ineffective opposition that we will drift further towards independence.
“The new leader has got to show an alternative. I support devo max, but whatever the party’s says there has to be an alternative to independence.
“For 12 years the party has not addressed this. The party has traditionally said that the constitutional questions don’t matter, but the new leader has got to acknowledge the issue if they are to successfully confront nationalism.”
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Comments
There are 173 comments to this article
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the wallace
Sunday, December 18, 2011 at 02:02 PMA wee bit of info for all you muppets who are saying we will be forced to join the euro,eh no we wont! AS has always said that will be for the people to decide in another referendum.
Cynicus in Exile
Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 10:34 PM8 . . .one of almost six million morons writes . . . Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 01:09 AM "How come I have gone from number ine opost to numbewr two post.?"-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stupidity? Illiteracy? Alcohol? _________________________________________________________ One of these explanations seems more likely.
Cynicus in Exile
Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 10:32 PM"How come I have gone from number ine opost to numbewr two post."....[?]"-#6, Arthur G _________________________________________________________ Dunno, squire. _________________________________________________________ "Is Cynicus a Scotsman employee?" _________________________________________________________ NO NO NO NO NO. And I don't want to be -however superior you think my talents to those who are.
Anagach
Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 04:56 PM166 Simonsaid 162Anagach The proposals so far released - CORRECTION, THE FEW PROPOSALS YOU HAVE BOTHERED TO CHECK. Why should I post you a link - get your servant to do it or mibees dae it yursel! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ive checked - no mention of Homework, no mention of monthly or weekly meetings, no mention of any correction or veto powers by the EU. The only proposal is that the national budgets are checked to see that they conform to prior agreements on borrowing and spending and that if they dont the EU has yet to decide what financial measures if any could be used to bring thing back within agreements. But no mention of Homework at all.
Gibbo
Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 04:23 PMIt does not matter who is in opposition, they fail to do their home work before puting their questions, that is why they all get shot down in their efforts to swarth the Leader Alex. our MSP's do their homework before arriving at the office not once they get there. Roll on May 2012.
Controlthe money
Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 04:06 PMWell, the singer may have changed but no the song..... I was a school teacher and I handled a class of 15 year olds on a friday, sameas Iain Gray. It's Calman versus Independence guys so that tell all get ready for the vote. As usual she is going to talk to people but is not going to do anything about Dev Max -- even though she already knows the majority want that. At the last minute she will promise FFA and a share of the London Stock exchange, the hen that lays the goden eggs and anything else you like -- but it won't be tangible and it will never happen
whitstomatowiu
Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 02:13 PMSimonsaid,-------------------------I've got an Idol or hero his name is---------------------KING ALEXANDER SALMOND-------------------------------------HAMMER OF THE UNIONISTAS----------------------------------------How many unionistas have fallen too Politician of any YEAR--------------------Dewar, McLeish,McConnel,Bendy Wendy,McLetchie,Goldie, Stephen,Scott,and Elmer to name a few, Pay homage to a Great Politician .
Simonsaid
Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 01:59 PM162Anagach The proposals so far released - CORRECTION, THE FEW PROPOSALS YOU HAVE BOTHERED TO CHECK. Why should I post you a link - get your servant to do it or mibees dae it yursel!
The Tree of Liberty
Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 01:52 PMIt's rare when that nutjob Indy's not here.
Anagach
Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 12:51 PM162 Anagach 140 Simonsaid I see you are mimicing your idol. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ No Gods and Precious Few Heroes. I dont have an idol or any heroes but if I had to pick one I'd got for Keir Hardie.
Anagach
Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 12:47 PM149 all politicians are the s*me Well you would still have no control over corporation tax you would have to join the single currency, all economic levers are set up for the german and to a lesser extent French economies to work. Your budget would have to be approved in berlin and when they decide that they do not like a National leader they make him resign. perfecto ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- currently countires have control of their Corporation Tax, joining countires have to look at joining the Euro when and if economic conditions are right, the French and Germans control 24% of the Voting powers and only 2 of the 26 ministers in the EU, budgets are not approved by Berlin, and national leaders are selected by the elected people or governments of the EU coiuntry in question. But by all means scaremonger a Berlin runs Europe model. Here in the Uk Westminster does control all.
Anagach
Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 12:41 PM140 Simonsaid I see you are mimicing your idol by opening your mouth before checking your factts. I suggest you look again at the new treaty proposals that Salmond would agree with and Careron rightly vetoed. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The proposals so far released - if you can find an official release please link. Are not what Cameron vetoed. There is no mention of Homework, and no mention of weekly meeetings and no mention of EU authorisation or control of national budgets and so no resemblance to your post. Care to link some facts, please do so.
Shawfield Urchin
Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 12:37 PMComment removed by moderator
The Harder They Come
Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 12:33 PM158. "...a country that has existed for over 300 years." that's a lie.
well informed
Saturday, December 17, 2011 at 12:32 PM158 Why you find the need to publicise your ignorance is your concern but expect to be treated accordingly when you do.
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