Sir Keir Starmer says Richard Leonard has his full support

Sir Keir Starmer yesterday insisted Richard Leonard has his full support despite attempts to remove the Scottish Labour leader by his own MSPs.

Labour leader Keir Starmer leaves the Chancellor's Building at The University of Edinburgh

Making his first visit to Scotland since being elected leader, Sir Keir backed his embattled colleague and praised their “excellent working relationship”.

Speaking in Edinburgh yesterday, Sir Keir defied those trying to oust Mr Leonard and insisted the pair would work together to “unite and unify” the party.

He said: “What I want to see here in Scotland is our party to pull together, and to focus on the job in hand, which is what we need to do between now and next May, in relation to the election.

“So that’s why I’m here, having the discussions that I have today.

“I’ve got a very good working relationship with Richard, I support Richard and I’ll be talking to him about what we need to do in the coming weeks and months with the Labour Party to restore trust in the Labour party here in Scotland and across the United Kingdom.”

His backing comes with Labour sitting a distant third in the polls, and facing another miserable night for Labour MSPs next year.

Asked about the difficulties facing Labour in Scotland, the Labour leader admitted his party has a “mountain to climb, whichever way you look at it”.

He added: “I am determined that we will climb that mountain, but it will be hard graft - inch by inch, yard by yard, all the way through to 2024, restoring trust in the Labour Party as a force for good and a force of change.

“The result in December of last year was devastating. And we need to turn that around.”

Sir Keir has now urged his party to “pull together” instead of “looking inwards”.

The Labour leader also repeated his accusation that the SNP were focusing on a “divisive” independence referendum instead of what matters to the people of Scotland.

He said: “I am frustrated that the SNP are talking about independence at the moment and that Boris Johnson is talking about Brexit, or at least contemplating breaking international law and opening old wounds, because I feel that the vast majority of people across Scotland and across the UK will be saying concentrate on the job in hand.

“So rather than talk about independence, rather than reopening old wounds on Brexit, work collectively to bring the infection rate under control, get testing where it needs to be, and pull together to deal with the pandemic.”

The pair met in person on Thursday afternoon for the first time since Sir Keir replaced Jeremy Corbyn.

Speaking after the meeting, Mr Leonard insisted the Labour party had a clear vision for Scotland.

He said: “Keir and I spoke about how we will work closely together to deliver Labour’s plans at Scottish and UK levels to create jobs and revive the economy, as we head towards a deep recession.

“Scottish Labour has been advocating a Jobs Guarantee Scheme and a National Care Service since the economic and human impact of Covid-19 became clear. I look forward to campaigning with Keir during his future visits to Scotland, ahead of May’s Holyrood elections.”