Conflicting rumours have been circulating today about the Scottish Labour leadership. The BBC and others have been reporting that Richard Leonard and Anas Sarwar ’emerged as favourites’, but neither man has formally confirmed that they would stand.
There have also been rumours that no one would stand against Sarwar, giving the ‘centrist’ a walk-over in a win that would set Labour back enormously in Scotland.
A very highly-placed Labour source has told the SKWAWKBOX that there will definitely be no walk-over – and that Scottish Labour’s economy spokesman Richard Leonard will stand.
As no other candidates appear to be interested, it’s therefore set to be a straight fight between a centrist with a voting record that will incense left-wingers – and MSP Leonard, who defied and incensed ex-leader Kezia Dugdale last year by making a statement in support of Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership of the Labour Party.
Formal announcements are expected imminently, battle lines are being drawn and campaign teams will soon be in place – it’s essential for the good of the party in Scotland and in the whole UK that every Left member rallies behind Richard Leonard to see him assume the Scottish leadership.
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