Murphy: Ex-whip who was egged but unbeaten
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FORMER Scottish secretary Jim Murphy had been linked with the Labour leadership north of the Border since before Johann Lamont’s controversial departure last week.
He was a central figure during the referendum campaign with his 100 towns tour which saw him confront hardline Nationalist opponents head on. The tour was suspended after Mr Murphy was egged and found himself being picketed by organised, often aggressive, independence campaigners.
The East Renfrewshire MP, 47, was a former student leader who became an MP in 1997. He went on to serve as a government whip, before being appointed employment
“He helped run David Miliband’s unsuccessful campaign”
minister, Europe minister, then Scottish secretary.
But his Westminster career appears clouded after he helped run David Miliband’s unsuccessful leadership campaign against his brother, the current leader Ed Miliband.
A move to Holyrood also poses real logistical problems for Mr Murphy. The party could attempt to engineer a by-election before the 2016 election, but it’s not clear how safe any seat is for Labour, given the resurgent SNP.
And after Ms Lamont complained of Scotland being treated as a “branch office” by London, it may look bad if the party is run for two years by a Westminster leader, Mr Murphy, with a deputy leader, Anas Sarwar, also based in the Commons. For example, who would take on Nicola Sturgeon at First Minister’s Questions?