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by Niall Christie
Scotland editor
SCOTTISH Labour could see its new leader in place as soon as Tuesday evening if a vote of members does not take place.
A leadership race was called by the party over the weekend following the departure of Richard Leonard on Thursday after three years in the job.
Mr Leonard cited continued speculation over his future being a “distraction” as his reason for stepping down, with reports suggesting that Westminster Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer had intervened in an attempt to see the left-wing MSP removed.
On Saturday the party’s Scottish executive committee (SEC) unveiled plans for the leadership race, which will begin this week.
Candidates had until midnight last night to declare their intention to run and will require support from at least four of the party’s MSPs or its sole Scottish MP by midday on the following Tuesday to be formally nominated.
As of this afternoon, only Glasgow MSP Anas Sarwar, who lost to Mr Leonard in the 2017 leadership race, had officially declared his intention to seek nominations.
The Morning Star understands that the party’s health spokeswoman Monica Lennon would be the only challenger to Mr Sarwar, should she decide to challenge for the leadership.
If more than one candidate is nominated, party members and affiliated supporters will be able to cast their votes from February 9 until ballots close on February 26 with the new leader to be announced the following day.
The Star understands that the timetable laid out by the party was challenged by some at Saturday’s SEC meeting, with a motion calling for a delay voted down by a majority of those sitting on the committee.
This comes after warnings in Saturday’s Morning Star from figures on the Labour left, who said the party’s next leader cannot be crowned in a “coronation.”
Scottish Labour chairwoman Cara Hilton said: “The Scottish executive committee today agreed that a new leader of the Scottish Labour Party will be elected by a ballot of party members and affiliated trade union members in February.
“The new leader will be announced on February 27 and will lead Scottish Labour into the Scottish Parliament election with a fresh energy to carry Labour’s message and take the fight to the Tories and the SNP.”
The deadline for declarations of interest in the leadership had passed after the Star went to print.
