Ken Macintosh: Look to US for Labour leadership bid

SCOTTISH Labour leadership contender Ken Macintosh has called on the party to adopt a system of US-style open primaries that would allow supporters who are not members to vote in the contest to succeed Jim Murphy.

Ken MacIntosh. Picture: Scott Taylor

Mr Macintosh and Scottish Labour’s deputy leader Kezia Dugdale are the two candidates who have publicly declared to stand in the leadership election.

However, Mr Macintosh said that people who support Scottish Labour and share its values, but who are not members should be included in any ballot to elect the party leader.

Mr Macintosh has made the call in a letter to outgoing party leader Mr Murphy, who will submit a report setting out reforms to the party when he formally steps down next month.

He said: “I have written to our party’s outgoing Leader, our chair and our general secretary with proposals which I believe, if adopted, will allow us to begin the immediate process of rebuilding the bonds of trust and confidence that we have lost with the people of Scotland.

“I believe holding open primaries throughout Scotland will offer Scottish Labour a real opportunity to engage with a politically energised electorate, to listen to their concerns, their hopes and their aspirations and allow our movement to share our principles and our passion for Scotland free from the constraints of an election.”