Labour leadership hopefuls both claim to be ‘change candidates’
Both Scottish Labour leadership candidates have claimed to be the "change candidates" in the race.
During a joint interview with the BBC, Anas Sarwar and Monica Lennon spoke of the need for the party to change to avoid electoral failure in May's Holyrood election.
Ms Lennon described the party as "a bit broken", pointing to decisions on disciplinary issues, such as the case of the nine Aberdeen councillors who were suspended after forming a coalition with the Conservatives.
Writing in the Daily Record last January, Ms Lennon said the Scottish Labour Party would need to undertake "epic changes" and potentially split with its UK counterpart to ensure it did not hit "rock bottom".
Yesterday, she said: "I stand by the comments about 'epic change', that's why I'm standing
to be the change candidate in this contest."
Minutes later, Mr Sarwar laid claim to the moniker as well. "I am the change candidate in this election," he said. "I wasn't part of the continuity of the last few years."
Mr Sarwar was recently appointed the party's constitution spokesperson while Ms Lennon has held the health portfolio since 2018.
When asked if she still believed the Scottish party should be a separate party, Ms Lennon said: "No, I think there's a way forward. I think we can keep the party united but I think we need to change internally." She added that she has contacted UK leader Keir Sir Starmer and would be "willing to work cooperatively", but believes disciplinary issues should be resolved north of the Border.
When asked if she will be "another branch manager" if she wins the leadership, Ms Lennon said: "I've never been a branch manager in my life. I'm standing to be my own woman and to lead a modern Scottish Labour Party that is fit for the 2020s."
Mr Sarwar said, if he won the contest, "there will be no doubt who leads the Scottish Labour Party and who speaks for Scotland in the Labour Party.
"I want Keir Starmer to be the prime minister of the UK, I will respect him, I will support him, I'll help him in that goal, but I'll never be afraid to tell him it like it is, tell him when he's wrong and to stand up for Scotland."