JOE FAGAN has become the third contender to succeed Anas Sarwar as leader of Scottish Labour just two months after entering Holyrood.

The South Scotland MSP was elected as a councillor for East Kilbride in 2017 before going on to lead South Lanarkshire Council between 2022 and his election to the Scottish Parliament in May of this year.

Now, just weeks after Scottish Labour suffered its worst result since devolution, he has joined the race to lead the party.

“Scottish Labour needs to learn lessons from where we have won, not just where we have lost,” he said.

“Andy Burnham’s by-election victory in Makerfield and our own successes in South Lanarkshire show that Labour can win back trust when we are rooted in communities and serious about changing people’s lives.

“The lesson is simple: people will listen to Scottish Labour again when we stop sounding like a party talking to itself and start proving that we are on their side.

“As a local council leader I worked across party lines to make swimming free for South Lanarkshire’s under-16s, to cut the cost of living and deliver the best-paid home care workforce in the country.”

Mr Fagan’s announcement means he will join Glasgow MSP Monica Lennon and North East MSP Michael Marra in the race, while West of Scotland MSP Katy Clark is “weighing up” a tilt at the job ahead of nominations opening on Monday. 

All runners will have to secure nominations from three MSPs, three Scottish Labour MPs, three constituency parties or affiliates, such as trade unions and socialist societies, by August 24.

A ballot of the party’s affiliated supporters and 12,000 members will open on August 28 and a leader will be announced on September 19.