Despicable! Beleaguered Leonard hits back at rebels

‘We need to look at all our options’

SCOTTISH Labour leader Richard Leonard has branded rebels trying to oust him ‘despicable’.

in a fiercely-worded statement, he hit out at those who had ‘underestimated’ him.

it comes after critics said they could go to court in a bid to force Mr Leonard out over fears he will lead them to embarrassment at next year’s holyrood elections.

Labour MSP Daniel Johnson yesterday claimed it was ‘fairly absurd’ that party chiefs claimed there was no way for his colleagues to mount a leadership challenge. And he failed to rule out legal action in a bid to spark a contest.

Mr Johnson along with Labour MSPs James Kelly, Jenny Marra and Mark Griffin have argued that a fifth of Labour members at holyrood no longer support Mr Leonard and he should therefore go.

Mr Johnson claims a contest should be allowed because Scottish Labour ‘defers’ to the UK party’s rule book, which states ‘that a fifth of the parliamentary party constitutes a valid challenge’.

Last night Mr Leonard met MSPs for the first time since the attempt to oust him began – and he issued a blistering attack on opponents in his own party.

he said: ‘Months out from an election, to hear MSPs threatening to take the party to court when we know that we are up against it with the resources and cash of the SNP and the tories, i find astonishing, even despicable.’

Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland, Edinburgh Southern MSP Mr Johnson said: ‘We seem to be in the slightly odd situation where a few days ago we had the leader of the Scottish Labour Party saying he would accept any challenge and now there seems to be a claim that no challenge is possible.

‘the UK leader of the Labour Party may be challenged if a fifth of MPs submit a challenge, but apparently the Scottish Labour leader uniquely holds office without qualification, caveat or limitation. And i don’t think that is fair, i don’t think that is reasonable and i think it is certainly highly questionable.’

Asked if there could be a court challenge to establish the procedures, he said: ‘it is certainly challengeable and we need to look at all our options.’

however, Scottish Labour general secretary Michael Sharpe said he was ‘not aware of any such precedent on this issue’ for the party north of the Border.