The race to become the next leader of Scottish Labour will be a two-way contest between Michael Marra MSP and Joe Fagan MSP after nominations closed on Monday.
Monica Lennon MSP, who had also been seeking the leadership, failed to secure the parliamentary nominations required to make the final ballot, leaving Marra and Fagan to compete for the support of Scottish Labour members.
The contest was triggered by Anas Sarwar’s departure as Scottish Labour leader last month.
Marra, MSP for North East Scotland, was the first candidate to secure his place on the ballot. A former Scottish Labour finance spokesperson, he has argued during the campaign that the party needs to “rediscover our soul” and reconnect with voters following its latest Holyrood election defeat.
He has also called for changes to the party’s internal culture and said Scottish Labour needs to offer voters a clearer positive programme for Scotland.
Fagan, meanwhile, was elected to Holyrood for the first time in May as a South Scotland regional MSP. He previously served as leader of South Lanarkshire Council and has presented himself as a candidate capable of bringing local government experience and a fresh perspective to the Scottish party.
Fagan has put rebuilding Labour’s relationship with working-class communities at the centre of his leadership pitch and has warned that the party needs significant change after a series of disappointing Scottish election results.
Lennon’s failure to reach the ballot brings her campaign to an end despite receiving support from major trade unions including Unite and Unison. She had previously contested the Scottish Labour leadership in 2021.
The final contest now presents Scottish Labour members with a choice between Marra, an established Holyrood figure who played a prominent role in developing the party’s policy platform, and Fagan, a newly elected MSP drawing heavily on his experience in local government.
Whoever wins will inherit the task of rebuilding Scottish Labour following another difficult Holyrood election and developing the party’s strategy for challenging the SNP.
The leadership campaign will now move into its next phase, with Marra and Fagan making their case directly to party members before the final vote.
