Scottish Labour in Turmoil; Scottish leader Richard Leonard dramatically quits as party leader just 4 months out from a tough Holyrood election, Neil Findlay, aLeonard ally blames 'flinching cowards and sneering traitors' for his downfall, unless the left and right wing adopt a policy of unity, the next party leader will also fail, the end of disunity must be a priority for party bosses if the party is serious about government at Holyrood or Westminster

Dear All

Richard Leonard has quit as Scottish Labour leader with immediate effect, the question was when he would quit and not if. 

So, to be clear, I voted for Richard Leonard as leader, because the party needed change, unfortunately he found out he was unsuited to take forward that change, he also struggled with his leadership and with the presentation of the Labour Party's and its ability to get out effective messaging. Today is not a victory for the Scottish Labour Party because in part, his failure is also a failure of the party to effectively support him. Richard Leonard was not supported properly as leader, and that in turn, rippled downwards and outwards. He also failed to reform the party as a campaigning unit, something his future successor will have to take on. In the meantime, as expected Jackie Baillie is the interim leader up to the May election, then the process should start to have a contest in early autumn. There is no point now in running a contest, because that would be a distraction.

I would say this, Richard Leonard should not have stepped down until after May, but he chose to go, and as I always say, let people make their own choices, then in the light of those choices, you can see their abilities. Leonard as I mentioned didn't get the right support, and he didn't grow into his position as leader. In truth, and this isn't his fault, he wasn't suited to the role, not everyone can lead the charge. Scottish Labour's deputy leader, Jackie Baillie, now interim leader has warned the party's MSPs that they "face the fight of our lives" ahead of May's election. On the issue of fighting, for some time, I was banging the drum that the current campaigning model is broken. One thing about fighting, which everyone grasps is that when the fight starts, you need to turn up for it. Scottish Labour as I repeatedly said isn't in a position to campaign effectively. Long campaigning needs revamp, the canvassing databases need updating, and that includes contact details of party members. Scottish Labour needs an overhaul of everything, and I do mean every single aspect of its operation.

The party is now looking for its seventh leader in the space of 14 years, at this rate, if I was an MSP or MP, I would stand a chance of being leader based on rotation. Scottish Labour needs a long term credible leader. Why long term, the party apparatus is so broken, that the fix, is not going to happen overnight. It will be a hard slog, because to fix every part of the party will involve at some stage.... pain. It has come a time when elected representatives need to prove that their election represents value to the party and to their constituents. So, what happens if they don't? To be brutal, they get removed as standing as a candidate for a defined period until they prove themselves worthy of selection. Scottish Labour can ill afford bad MPs, MSPs or Cllrs, there should be a no baggage rule, won't work should mean removal from opportunity to work.

Last September, a handful of Richard Leonard's own MSPs tried to oust him, the plot by the feeble four was defeated. So, to be clear, the reason Scottish Labour's support has gone down the toilet was the activities, policies and personnel who got raised up by the right wing. Tony Blair did more damage to Scottish Labour than the SNP ever did, the Nats just milked up the effect of his premiership. Almost every leader who caused party decline came from the right wing of the party. That is fact. Scottish people stopped voting Labour because of them, and their style of management. The right wing think they should 'manage' people rather than represent them. The Scottish public who were done an incredible disservice simply did the only thing they could, they stopped voting for the party. Their protest didn't create change, but what it did do was usher in the era of the SNP. People vote for representatives, not 'managers' who failed to act on their behalf. Scottish Labour owes an apology for every bad representative who failed to live up to Labour values and principles.

Let me say this, no one who leads the party in the upcoming election, a bad result was expected. Elections aren't fought on one day, they fought in what is termed the 'long campaign', the 'short' campaign and in the digital world. Presentation matters, but presentation without substance is meaningless, truth is the currency of politics, not spin, you need to identify problems and have solutions. Standing under a burst pipe and someone telling you that you're getting wet doesn't advance your cause. I use that example because you will click into that, you'll get it what I am trying to put across. The right wing raised fears about the direction of Leonard's leadership and the polls suggesting the party is set for a difficult result in May. But think back to when the right wing controlled the party, their election results destroyed the party, Leonard didn't do that. He isn't the hook to pin all Scottish Labour's failure on, and to do so is unfair.

In leaving Richard Leonard said the discussion over his leadership had become "a distraction", and he added "it is in the best interests of the party" for him to quit. Was quitting at this juncture the correct timing if he felt so strongly? The answer is no, it's bad timing, something everyone and including him should have recognise. Jackie Baillie is the interim leader who run up her first election loss, so that's  bad start not just for her but also the right wing, toss a possible defeat of her constituency seat, and you get what is termed a bloody mess. There has to be a run period, and four months, under lockdown and no effective ground campaigning just doesn't cut it.

In a statement, Leonard said: 

"I have thought long and hard over the Christmas period about what this crisis means, and the approach Scottish Labour takes to help tackle it. I have also considered what the speculation about my leadership does to our ability to get Labour’s message across. This has become a distraction. I have come to the conclusion it is in the best interests of the party that I step aside as leader of Scottish Labour with immediate effect. This was not an easy decision, but after three years I feel it is the right one for me and for the Party. I want to thank all those people who placed their hopes in me, and who worked with me in good times and bad. This experience and the great people I have met will live with me forever. I owe a huge debt in particular to all those party members who work tirelessly for the cause of Labour."

He added:

"I retain my faith in the Labour Party as the party that offers hope to people and that remains the only vehicle for the realisation of that hope. Whilst I step down from the leadership today, the work goes on, and I will play my constructive part as an MSP in winning support for Labour’s vision of a better future in a democratic economy and a socialist society."

I am a great believer in people making choices, but I feel his timing is rather off, I see how he benefits, but does the party and Scottish people? Jackie is leader for now, but will the party be seen as a rudderless ship. The Captain has jumped overboard, and his deputy who has been calling the shots suddenly finds herself taking the wheel. Given that Jackie Baillie, who was sacked from Mr Leonard's frontbench team before then steps in will cause people to question, will there be unity going into this election?

Jackie Baillie said:

"I thank Richard for his service to our party and his genuine commitment to the values we all hold dear. Scottish Labour has set the agenda for Scotland's recovery from the pandemic, forcing the SNP government to commit to a national care service and a youth jobs guarantee. We face the fight of our lives in the run-up to the 2021 Scottish Parliament elections. But as we fight for every vote and seat, we will come together to hold the SNP and Tories to account for their record of failure. I know Richard will continue to work hard to campaign for a Scottish Labour government as an MSP, and as our lead candidate in Central Scotland in the Scottish Parliament elections." 

Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the UK party, has thanked Mr Leonard for his "unwavering commitment".

He said: 

"I would like to thank Richard for his service to our party and his unwavering commitment to the values he believes in. Richard has led Scottish Labour through one of the most challenging and difficult periods in our country’s history, including a general election and the pandemic. Even from opposition he has achieved a considerable amount for which he should be very proud. This includes securing a commitment for the creation of a national care service, securing action on a jobs guarantee scheme to deal with youth unemployment, securing a human-rights based public inquiry into the treatment of care home residents during the Covid pandemic and securing support for a Fair Rents Bill to give new rights to tenants.  He has done so with dedication to the values of our movement. I wish Richard the very best for the future as one of our MSPs and know that he will continue to play an important role in Scottish Labour."

Standard stuff as you would expect from the party leader.

Finally; Neil Findlay, the Labour MSP for the Lothians and an ally of Mr Leonard took a less charitable view of today's events, he flat out blamed the group of MSPs for Mr Leonard’s decision who attempted to force him out. Writing on Twitter, he said:

“Looks like those who have led a three-year campaign of briefings to journalists, leaks of private conversations and the constant feeding of stories to the media to bring down a decent and honest man have succeeded. These flinching cowards and sneering traitors make me sick.”

One thing, there must be unity for Scottish Labour to turn around, do you get a sense after reading Neil Findlay that this is possible? Anas Sarwar, who was defeated by Mr Leonard for the Labour leadership in 2017 has also paid thanks to his former rival's contribution. It is entirely possible that Anas will throw his hat into the ring for leader, perhaps he would consider that now the decks are cleared, this is his moment.

He said:

"Richard Leonard has led our party through one of the most difficult times in our history. He is Labour to his core, and we are all grateful for his service.I know he will continue to fight for a fairer, more just and more equal society today, tomorrow and long into the future."

Finally, his departure not unexpected, in due course perhaps more details will emerge on why now? It is a pity that Richard Leonard's leadership ends so suddenly, what does that mean for the dynamic in Scottish Labour, or its position on the political landscape, we wait for more information to emerge. May will be a tough election, but without reform what chance does any leader have of turning the party around and be seen as a government in waiting. No reform means no progress, no progress means no government in Holyrood or Westminster.

Yours sincerely

George Laird                                                                                                                        The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University