MICHAEL MARRA officially launched his bid to be the next leader of Scottish Labour today just days after returning colleague Monica Lennon announced she would run.

An MSP for the North East region since 2021, Mr Marra was appointed the party’s finance spokesman by then Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar in 2023, and has long been understood to be right-wing deputy leader Jackie Baillie’s choice to replace him.

Announcing that he would join Ms Lennon, who will return to Holyrood as a list MSP after Mr Sarwar ditched leadership for a seat in the Lords and a job as trade minister, Mr Marra told the Daily Record: “The promise of our Scottish Labour Party is that we build a better, more equal nation, and we leave it as a legacy for our children.

“In this moment of renewal for our party, we must restate that purpose. But we also have to listen. We have to learn. And we have to change.”

Noticing that “Scottish Labour has gone backwards six Holyrood elections in a row,” he added: “That better, more equal Scotland is my driving ambition.

“It’s what gets me up in the morning. It’s what motivates me to stand up for the people I grew up with here in Dundee.

“It’s what drives me as I campaign for change across Scotland. It’s why I’m standing to be the leader.”

His declaration coincided with Dame Jackie taking a break from conducting the review into the disastrous Holyrood election she masterminded — alongside Scottish secretary Douglas Alexander — to publish the timetable to find a new leader with a tribute to Mr Sarwar.

Dame Jackie said: “He led the Scottish Labour Party with integrity and a vision to build a fairer and more equal Scotland.”

She outlined the timetable ratified at the party’s Scottish executive committee, that will see nomination open on Monday August 3, a ballot between August 28 and September 17 and a new leader elected on September 19.

“The agreed process guarantees a fair and open contest, while ensuring we are able to progress at pace and elect a new leader without delay,” she said.

“This will allow us to continue to build on the hard work of recent years and take Scottish Labour forward, ready to hold the SNP to account and confront the poisonous politics of Reform in Scotland.”