Michael Marra takes the reins at Scottish Labour

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The North East Scotland MSP beat off a challenge from newly elected south Scotland MSP Joe Fagan today with 63 per cent of the 6,751 votes cast to win the contest sparked by Anas Sarwar’s departure for the House of Lords in July.

Despite being the party’s 11th leader since the advent of devolution in 1999, speaking on BBC Scotland’s Sunday Show, Mr Marra insisted it was a “long-term job.”

He said: “I fundamentally believe we have to reconnect with the country in a really profound way.

“We have to make sure that people know more about what we are for, and those values of equality, solidarity, good public services, a decent life for working people.”

But with just 49.4 per cent of Scottish Labour members and little more than 5 per cent of affiliate members in trade unions and socialist societies bothering to vote, Communist Party Scottish secretary Tam Morrison said: “The Scottish Labour leadership campaign between two right-wing candidates Michael Marra and Joe Fagan failed to generate any enthusiasm in the broader labour and trade union movement. 

“The demise of Scottish Labour will continue under Marra’s right-wing leadership and it will take intervention by the trade union movement to compel a move towards redistributive policies as advocated by the STUC. 

“Extra parliamentary struggle will be key to protect public services, stop the drift to war, and defeat the far right. 

“Marra will do none of these things without massive pressure from the trade unions.”

Taking aim at Mr Marra’s call for new drilling in the North Sea, Scottish Green co-leader Gillian Mackay said: “Scottish Labour needs far more than Michael Marra before it will be taken seriously again. 

“That will require new ideas, political courage and a willingness to stand up to the fossil-fuel giants, not yet another Scottish Labour-shaped cheerleader for them.”

Congratulating Mr Marra with a challenge to back a second referendum on separation, SNP depute leader Keith Brown MSP said: “If the Labour Party continue to deny the people of Scotland their democratic right to choose our own future, they will continue to suffer defeat after defeat.”