Murphy pledge to raise £1m to fight election

Scottish Labour leadership contender Jim Murphy has promised to raise £1million to support the work of the party before the general election next May.

The East Renfrewshire MP will today vow to “raise more money than ever before” from trade unions, businesses, individuals and new members if elected.

Mr Murphy, who is competing against Lothians MSPs Sarah Boyack and Neil Findlay for the role, will say the party must take more responsibility for fundraising, policy, staffing and all-year round campaign activity. He is expected to promise members and supporters that decisions about Scottish Labour will be made in Scotland and “nowhere else”.

Mr Murphy will also announce that, if elected leader, the £155,000 levy currently paid to the UK party by party councillors will stay in Scotland. He intends to appoint Jenny Laing, leader of Aberdeen City Council, to a group which will recommend how best to spend the money.

The commission will also be made up of the leaders of Glasgow City and North Lanarkshire council and begin its work on December 15 – two days after the new leader is unveiled.

Mr Murphy has written to Iain McNicol, UK party general secretary, to outline his intentions.

The MP will say he wants to invest at least £5,000 in each Scottish and UK seat currently held by the party and in key target seats it wants to win back at the 2016 Holyrood election.

Mr Murphy has vowed to appoint a representative of Labour’s councillors to the political cabinet.

Mr Findlay has pledged to listen to the views of allparty members and trade union representatives to make the party “bigger , better and more autonomous”.