Bruised and scarred, candidates warn their party of a whole new ball game

LABOUR leadership contender Ken Macintosh has warned the party faces years of opposition unless it undergoes radical change.

Mr Macintosh officially launched his bid to replace outgoing leader Iain Gray yesterday, and will face a challenge from Johann Lamont and MP Tom Harris.

The Eastwood MSP positioned himself as a success story on an otherwise bad Holyrood election night for Labour.

His vote increased in a nominally Conservative area, while other Labour candidates lost in seemingly safe seats. But Mr Macintosh described the election campaign as a “disaster.”

He added: “If we continue like that, we will continue to lose votes and be consigned to years in opposition.

“Let’s start talking about what Scotland can be, about building the good society here in Scotland, making this not just a prosperous country but a better country, a more caring country.”

Mr Macintosh, who was born in Inverness, said the party must not be seen as focused on the central belt.

He added: “We are the party for the whole of Scotland, and whether you are living in Clydebank, Aberdeen or Cumbernauld, you need to know that the Labour Party is speaking to you and for you.”

Meanwhile, challenger Ms Lamont claimed the backing of another member of the party’s frontbench in finance spokesman Richard Baker.

Ms Lamont’s campaign manager Paul Martin said: “Johann is honoured to have the resounding backing of so many of her fellow MSPs in the Scottish Parliament and the support of Richard and others is bringing real momentum to her campaign to change the Labour party.”

Mr Harris said yesterday that he wants to “shake some sense” into the party.

“We’ve let down the Scottish people,” he said.

“We delivered devolution which was fantastic, then we more or less walked away and thought that was the job done. We gave devolution no more thought and the Scottish people aren’t daft.”