New leader Marra pledges ‘return to Labour values’ – Daily Business

Michael Marra said he would commit Labour to be clear in its values after being elected leader of the Scottish party.

The current finance spokesman, who was was backed by a clear majority over his rival Joe Fagan, said his first 100 days would take Labour out of the bubble of parliament to deliver what the people want.

Mr Marra secured 4,266 (63%) votes to Mr Fagan’s 2,485 (37%). He succeeds Anas Sarwar and said the public could feel that “Scotland has got weaker”.

Speaking at an event to anounce the new leader, he said: Labour must reconnect with the country.

“We will press for economic and industrial policies that put Scottish workers first, and we will push power and control out of Holyrood and into Scotland’s regions, because politics in Scotland is more than just what happens in the Holyrood chamber,” he told Labour supporters at Dynamic Earth.

“We will work with Labour councillors across the country to protect services and communities from cuts.

“We will work with our trade union movement to protect jobs, rights and deliver new opportunities.

“And we will work with Andy Burnham’s UK Labour government, with Scots at the heart of it, to deliver the best deal for Scotland in a changing UK.”

His defeated rival, Mr Fagan, said: “I am genuinely delighted for Michael. The key message was all about party unity and he reflected the good nature of the campaign.

“Everything he said was about people and place and we will move forward together as a party.”

SNP Depute Leader, Keith Brown MSP, immediately challenged Mr Marra to turn his focus on the people to delivering constitutional change.

“Scotland’s constitutional future should rest with the people of Scotland and Michael Marra should be absolutely clear from the get-go that he supports that simple democratic concept,” said Mr Brown.

“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.

“As we saw in Wales on Monday, there are First Ministers across these islands that support constitutional change – three of the four nations on these islands are led by pro-independence First Ministers. 

“Westminster’s time is coming to an end and the question is how and when Scotland will leave it and begin a fresh start with independence.”

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