Labour campaign group Mainstream has endorsed Monica Lennon in the Scottish Labour leadership contest, saying its Scottish members believe the election must provide a “circuit-breaker” for the party.
The organisation announced its backing for Lennon on Monday evening following a consultation with members in Scotland.
In a statement on X, Mainstream said: “After consultation with our Scottish members, Mainstream is proud to endorse Monica Lennon to be the next Leader of Scottish Labour.”
The endorsement provides another boost for Lennon as she campaigns to succeed Anas Sarwar in a three-way contest involving Michael Marra and Joe Fagan.
Mainstream said its Scottish members were clear that the leadership election needed to mark a change in direction for the party.
“Scottish members are clear that this leadership election must act as a circuit-breaker for Scottish Labour,” the group said.
Lennon has argued during the campaign that Scottish Labour needs to rebuild trust with voters and change the way it operates following the party’s disappointing Holyrood election result.
The former MSP has previously contested the Scottish Labour leadership, losing to Sarwar in 2021. This time she faces Marra, the former North East Scotland MSP, and Fagan, the former South Scotland MSP.
Mainstream’s endorsement follows support for Lennon from figures on the Labour left and the backing of Unison’s Scottish Labour Link committee. Unison made its decision following an online hustings involving Lennon, Marra and Fagan.
However, Lennon still faces a crucial hurdle in securing the parliamentary nominations required to reach the membership ballot.
Under the contest rules, candidates require nominations from at least three Labour MPs and two Labour MSPs, as well as support from three affiliated organisations, at least two of which must be trade unions. Nominations close on 17 August.
Scottish Labour’s official nominations page currently records Katy Clark MSP as backing Lennon, while a number of MPs and MSPs have already declared for Marra.
The Mainstream endorsement adds to the political debate over the future direction of Scottish Labour, with the contest increasingly focused on how the party rebuilds its electoral coalition and distinguishes itself from both the SNP and other parties.
For Lennon, the backing strengthens her argument that the leadership election should be about more than choosing a new figurehead — but about changing Scottish Labour’s political direction and rebuilding its relationship with voters.
