A CHARITY press chief is set to take over as Scottish Labour’s new head of communications.

It is understood that party leader Richard Leonard told MSPs yesterday that he has appointed Lynn McMath, currently policy and communications manager at homelessness charity Crisis, to the vacant role.

Ms McMath, who will take up her post in early May, previously worked for Labour in the Scottish Parliament before moving to roles in the public and third sectors.

A senior party source said: “This is a great appointment. Lynn has a wealth of experience, is brimming with enthusiasm and ideas, and is exactly the kind of person we need to showcase and explain how our policies will end austerity and transform Scotland.”

The post has recently been filled temporarily by respected former union press officer Richard Simcox, on secondment from Jeremy Corbyn’s media team.

He took over after sports journalist Charlie Mann, who was once a spinner for Heart of Midlothian FC’s oligarch owner Vladimir Romanov, quit last October.

Mr Mann, who served for only six months as Mr Leonard’s spin doctor said he had “decided the role is not for me.”