Internal feuding taxes patience

LABOUR’S leadership contest came to life this week with some intriguing tax policy ideas.

So it’s a pity the personal insults keep flying.

The latest comes from Unite’s Pat Rafferty, who reignited the row over Anas Sarwar’s decision to send his children to a fee-paying school.

It is legitimate to question the decisions of anyone wanting to lead Scottish Labour.

But this swipe from the Unite boss undermines what should be a battle of ideas.

Both sides put forward plans which got members, and opponents, talking in the past few days –on tax cuts for the poorest and a wealth tax on the richest.

But the wider Labour movement – party and unions – seem more interested in in-fighting than fighting their political opponents.

This seemingly endless internal discord is a substantial part of the reason why Labour find themselves as the third-placed party in Scotland.

Third place! That makes Richard Leonard and Sarwar’s contest to become the Scottish leader look increasingly like two bald men fighting over a comb.

If Labour’s plans are ever to be realised, the two parties of government – the Tories and the SNP – will have to be overcome.

And while the movement continue their favourite hobby of internal bloodletting, that dream appears a long way away.