Michael Marra and Joe Fagan reach Scottish Labour leadership ballot

The race to succeed Anas Sarwar as Scottish Labour leader has narrowed to a two-way contest. Monica Lennon failed to secure enough support to enter the ballot, according to reporting by the Glasgow Times.

The leadership vacancy opened after Mr Sarwar gave up his seat to take up a post in the House of Lords and a post in Andy Burnham’s government. His decision to quit just over two months after Scottish Labour suffered its worst Holyrood election result has angered some party members, as noted by the Irish News. Ms Lennon noted in her previous campaign that she fell short with around 42% of the vote when running against Mr Sarwar previously.

Media additions

Following a nomination period that closed at 10am on Monday, Scottish Labour confirmed that Scottish finance spokesperson Michael Marra and Joe Fagan, a former council leader who was elected as an MSP for the South of Scotland in May, have met the threshold required to be eligible for the ballot, according to the Irish News. Prospective candidates needed the backing of three MSPs, three MPs and three affiliate organisations to stand.

Ms Lennon fell short of the required parliamentary threshold. She was nominated by two MPs and two MSPs including herself, relying on South Scotland MSP Carol Mochan alongside Katy Clark MSP, and MPs Brian Leishman and Euan Stainbank, though she did not secure the necessary parliamentary support overall. Ms Lennon was endorsed by Unison and Unite the Union. Commenting on her exclusion, The Herald reported that Ms Lennon stated Scottish Labour is “stuck in the past”.

In her statement after missing out on the ballot, Ms Lennon said:

"Scottish Labour is stuck in the past. We are not listening to all of our members, the wider movement that built us or the millions of Scots who won’t vote for us."

Monica Lennon, via The Herald

Ms Lennon added that the contest should have been a wide debate rooted in courage, humility, and imagination, stating that values mean nothing without vision, conviction, and committed action. She further warned against punching down on minorities and urged the party to lead with decency.

Mr Marra expressed commiserations to Ms Lennon, describing her as one of the most formidable and effective campaigners the Labour movement has, according to Daily Business. Mr Fagan, who is backed by USDAW, the GMB, may shift the party further to the left, while Mr Marra has support from, among others, the rail workers union Aslef.

Contender Support and Key Figures

The nomination tallies revealed a wide disparity in parliamentary backing between the two survivors:

• Michael Marra: Marra has the support of 21 MPs and seven MSPs.
• Joe Fagan: Fagan has been backed by seven MPs and five MSPs.
• Monica Lennon: Lennon was nominated by two MPs and two MSPs including herself.

When he announced his candidacy, Mr Marra, a North East MSP, said:

"The promise of our Scottish Labour Party is that we build a better, more equal nation, and we leave it as a legacy for our children."

Michael Marra, North East MSP, via Glasgow Times

Mr Marra added that the party must rediscover its soul and reconnect with Scotland. Mr Fagan, a South Scotland MSP, stated that he is standing to root Scottish Labour in Scotland's places again, calling for homes built at scale, good work close to home, and power sitting closer to the people it affects.

What Happens Next

With nominations closed, hustings have already started, including an event in Glasgow last week. The internal contest now moves into its active membership phase:

• Friday, August 28: A ballot of members and affiliated supporters will open.
• Thursday, September 17: Voting will close at 5pm.
• Saturday, September 19: The winner of the leadership contest will be announced.