Yvette Cooper wins backing of Ian Murray for leader

SHADOW Scottish secretary Ian Murray has said he will vote for Yvette Cooper in the UK Labour leadership election but said he had “no problem” with the left wing candidate Jeremy Corbyn.

Yvette Cooper takes part in a Labour Party leadership hustings in Warrington, England. Picture: AFP/Getty Images

Mr Murray, Labour’s only Scottish MP, said the party needed its first female leader as he delivered his first keynote speech since he was appointed as the shadow cabinet lead on Scotland.

He said: “At UK level I have been quite keen to ensure the debate carries on without me backing anyone, but I am backing Yvette Cooper for the next leader of the Labour Party,” he said.

“The reason I am doing that is purely because I think Labour needs its first female prime minister.

“But I also think Yvette has a lot of understanding of the situation in Scotland, I think that she has the determination, she has the confidence.”

The shadow Scottish secretary also said that he had no problem “whatsoever” with Mr Corbyn who is now viewed as the favourite in the leadership race, ahead of Ms Cooper, Andy Burnham and Liz Kendall.

Mr Murray, the Edinburgh South MP, also said Labour should draw a “real lesson” on how to build a community based movement from Heart of Midlothian football club which he said had lost its way but is now on the “right path” after the creation of supporters’ trust Foundation of Hearts, which he served as chair of.