Labour leader eyes SNP stronghold of Dundee

Conference aims to kickstart campaign to win city

Richard Leonard is hosting his first Scottish Labour conference as leader in the SNP stronghold of Dundee.

The party’s new boss will use the spring gathering to kickstart Labour’s campaign to reclaim the city, which has only sent one constituency representative to Holyrood or Westminster since 2007.

The move on Dundee comes as Mr Leonard is to appear alongside Jeremy Corbyn in Glasgow to launch a bonfire of former leader Kezia Dugdale’s policy programme.

The radical overhaul is likely to follow from the review of 12 policy areas, which will be announced today.

Mr Leonard’s reviews will cover areas including income tax, nationalisation and housing.

Speaking alongside the UK Labour leader, Mr Leonard will pledge to use the Corbyn model to “breathe new life” into Scottish politics.

Mr Leonard said: “Over the coming months, we will set up 12 policy reviews and a commission on tax to further develop our policies on the vital issues facing Scotland including: funding and powers for local government, meeting the housing crisis, improving the health of our children, tackling climate change and developing green energy as well as extending public ownership.

“This moment can be a turning point for our party in Scotland but also for the UK as a whole. We can and must change our society.”

The outcome of those policy reviews will then be pitched to members at the Dundee conference in March.

A Scottish Labour insider said there is a “degree of confidence that Labour can take certain SNP strongholds off them” – including Dundee – with Jeremy Corbyn and Richard Leonard in charge of the party.