RICHARD LEONARD QUITS AS LABOUR LEADER
Leonard bows out as Scottish Labour’s leader
RICHARD Leonard has dramatically quit as Scottish Labour leader months before the Holyrood election.
He resigned after claiming that speculation about his leadership had become a “distraction”.
Glasgow MSP Anas Sarwar, who lost to Leonard after a bitter contest in 2017, is believed to be the favourite to succeed him.
His departure was exclusively revealed online by the Daily Record last night.
In a statement, Leonard said: “I have thought long and hard over the Christmas period about what this (pandemic) crisis means, and the approach Scottish Labour takes to help tackle it. I have also considered what the speculation about my leadership does to our ability to get Labour’s message across. This has become a distraction.
“I have come to the conclusion it is in the best interests of the party that I step aside as leader of Scottish Labour with immediate effect.
“This was not an easy decision, but after three years I feel it is the right one for me and for the party.
“While I step down from the leadership today, the work goes on, and I will play my constructive part as an MSP in winning support for Labour’s vision of a better future in a democratic economy and a socialist society.”
Leonard has struggled in a job he held for over three years.
His beleaguered party slumped to fifth place at the European elections and lost six of their seven MPs at the general election.
Polling has been poor and party figures feared Labour were in line for a drubbing at May’s Holyrood election.
Left-winger Leonard survived an attempt to depose him last year and defiantly insisted he would carry on.
Deputy leader Jackie Baillie will become interim chief but sources do not expect her to seek the job permanently. She said: “I thank Richard for his service to our party and his genuine commitment to the values we all hold dear.
“Scottish Labour has set the agenda for Scotland’s recovery from the pandemic, forcing the SNP government to commit to a National Care Service and a youth jobs guarantee. We face the fight of our lives in the run-up to the 2021 Scottish Parliament elections.”
Party chair Cara Hilton said: “Richard Leonard has led our party with principle and integrity in the most challenging of circumstances.
“As a campaigning opposition leader, he has developed a strong policy platform.”
The party’s governing executive will meet in the coming days to
agree a timetable for electing Leonard’s successor.
Sarwar, who Leonard recently brought back to the shadow cabinet, tweeted: “Richard has led our party through one of the most difficult times in our history.
“He is Labour to his core and we are all grateful for his service. I know he will continue to fight for a fairer, more just and more equal society today, tomorrow and long into the future.”
However, fellow Labour MSP Neil Findlay rounded on Leonard’s internal critics: “Looks like those who have led a three-year campaign of briefings to journalists, leaks of private conversations and the constant feeding of stories to the media to bring down a decent and honest man have succeeded.
“These flinching cowards and sneering traitors make me sick.”
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Despite our political differences, I’ve always liked Richard Leonard. He is a decent guy and I wish him well for the future.”
Former Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson said: “Whatever else is written about Richard, I have to say I always found him a thoroughly decent man and a committed campaigner.”
Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: “Richard Leonard is a good man who cares deeply about his politics and his party.”
Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said: “Scottish Labour could now field an entire football team of former leaders and acting leaders.
“The party has spent almost the entire devolution era fighting among itself, all the while letting down working-class communities.
“Many Labour members have understandably become utterly disillusioned with their party’s constant infighting.”
Gordon McKay, chair of trade union Unison Scotland Labour Link, said: “Richard has spent his working life supporting the issues that are at the heart of Unison – public services, fair pay and social justice. We thank him for being a champion of public services and public service workers.”