Ministers may face legal action over Salmond evidence

Unite chief throws support behind beleaguered leader amid party infighting

The country’s largest trade union backed Richard Leonard after a torrid week for the Scottish Labour leader.

Four of his own MSPS and several senior Labour figures have called for his resignation amid dismal polling results.

But Unite Scottish secretary Pat Rafferty said: “Voters will be repelled by this sort of conduct.

“They want to see their MSPS focuse d on s uppor t i n g communities and saving jobs, not indulging in underhand efforts to dislodged an elected leader. Whoever is organising this disgraceful coup should pack it in at once.”

Meanwhile, Labour former First Minister Henry Mcleish said the party should not be looking for a new leader just eight months before the next Holyrood election.

Mr Mcleish said: “The Labour Party is fooling itself if it thinks a change of leadership will change the party’s fortunes. It’s much deeper than that.

“The public don’t know what Labour stands for. Unless we get to grips with the constitutional question, Scots will continue to ignore us.

“It is time for the party to think about the bigger issues we face

Richard Leonard on the campaign trail last year

– our attitude to Brexit, Scottish independence and offering an alternative through federalism.”

He added: “I have seen nothing yet to convince me that changing the leader will change the party’s prospects in next year’s election.

“If there’s some remarkable person out there who can do all of that, I haven’t seen them yet.”

Mr Leonard urged his party to unite behind him after UK Labour shadow cabinet member Rachel Reeves called on him to “consider his position”.

But former Labour gover nment minister Brian Wilson said demands for l oy a l t y f rom a besieged leader “should be treated with suspicion”.

Mr Wi l s o n , wr i t i n g in The Scotsman, said: “In last year’s European elections, under Corbyn and Leonard, Labour won 4% of the vote and under 10% in Scotland as a whole. Four per cent, Richard. Is that what I am supposed to be loyal to?”

Mr Leonard last night said he was determined to lead the party into next year’s Scottish Parliament election.

He said: “The events of the last week have only served to strengthen my own resolve and bolstered the confidence of party members in Scotland that we cannot go back, that we have to go forward together in the fight of our lives for every vote and every seat in next year’s election.”

Scottish ministers could face legal action over their refusal to hand over key evidence to an inquiry into the botched handling of complaints against Alex Salmond.

Deputy First Minister John Swinney has refused to hand over documents, citing legal privilege.

But MSPS probing the Scottish Government’s investigation into sexual harassment allegations made against the former First Minister will consider going to the courts to seek access to the documents.

Labour MSP Jackie Baillie, a member of the committee, said:

Alex Salmond

“It is unfortunate that there is all this secrecy and lack of transparency. Access to legal advice is central to the committee’s remit and the job it is required to do, and I would hope that if the Scottish Government does not provide this, the committee might consider going to the courts themselves.”