Joe Fagan has pledged to ensure Scottish Labour members receive the support and influence they need to win elections as he joined the party’s campaign in Portobello and Craigmillar.
The Scottish Labour leadership candidate campaigned alongside Jim Patrick Wyke, who is standing for Labour in the Edinburgh council by-election on Thursday 3 September.
Fagan said:
“Great to be out with Jim and the Labour team in Portobello and Craigmillar today.
“Our members bring Labour’s values to life in their local communities. As leader, I’ll make sure their voices are heard and they have the support they need to win.
“Vote Labour on 3rd September.”
Wyke is a local resident with longstanding connections to the area. Born in Musselburgh, he attended Portobello High School and has lived in Edinburgh for approximately 25 years. His professional background includes campaigning for children’s rights and working as a civil servant on marine environmental protection.
The Portobello and Craigmillar contest was triggered by the resignation of an SNP councillor. The ward previously elected representatives from Labour, the SNP, the Scottish Greens and the Conservatives.
Labour’s campaign is focused on securing a strong local voice who will stand up for residents and support the work of the minority Labour administration running Edinburgh Council. Wyke has said he wants to give something back to the community and ensure local people receive the services and representation they deserve. He has also highlighted the importance of challenging SNP cuts and supporting Labour action to make life more affordable across the city.
Rebuilding from the grassroots
Fagan’s visit reflects the central argument of his Scottish Labour leadership campaign: that the party must reconnect with communities, strengthen its grassroots organisation and listen more closely to the members who campaign throughout the year. He has argued that Scottish Labour must stop talking primarily to itself and concentrate on demonstrating how it can change people’s everyday lives.
Fagan has also called for power and resources to be transferred closer to local communities, drawing on his experience in local government. Before entering the Scottish Parliament as an MSP for South Scotland, he led South Lanarkshire Council. His leadership platform has placed a strong emphasis on rebuilding Labour from the council and constituency level upwards.
The contest to replace Anas Sarwar is now between Fagan and Michael Marra MSP. Both candidates secured the required nominations from Scottish Labour MPs and MSPs, with party members and affiliated supporters now casting their votes. Balloting opened on 28 August and will close on 17 September. The new Scottish Labour leader will be announced at a special event on 19 September, shortly before the UK Labour Party Conference in Liverpool. Edinburgh parliamentarians have separately backed Marra as ballots opened.
Fagan has received nominations from Labour parliamentarians and councillors across Scotland, together with backing from trade unions including GMB Scotland and USDAW. His campaign has set out several policy tests for the Scottish Government, including increased core funding for councils, a minimum wage of £15 an hour for social-care workers and greater use of Scotland’s long-term investment capital to support housebuilding.
Winning street by street
However, his appearance in Portobello and Craigmillar demonstrated that the leadership contest is also about the practical work of winning public support street by street. Members and volunteers remain Labour’s strongest connection to communities. They speak to residents, deliver literature, organise local campaigns and ensure concerns raised on the doorstep reach elected representatives.
Fagan’s promise is that, under his leadership, their knowledge would play a greater role in shaping Scottish Labour’s strategy and they would receive stronger organisational support.
With polling day approaching, the immediate priority is electing Wyke as the next councillor for Portobello and Craigmillar. The wider challenge is rebuilding Scottish Labour into a confident, campaigning organisation capable of winning across the country.
Fagan’s message from Edinburgh was clear: that renewal must begin with local communities and the Labour members already working within them.
