2021 Scottish Labour leadership election
 | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||
| ||||||||||
| ||||||||||
The 2021 Scottish Labour leadership election was triggered on 14 January 2021 by the resignation of Richard Leonard as leader of the Scottish Labour Party, who had led the party since 2017. Two candidates were nominated, Anas Sarwar and Monica Lennon.
Ballots opened on 9 February and closed on 26 February. Sarwar was elected as leader on 27 February, winning 57.6% of the vote to Lennon's 42.4%.
Background[]
Richard Leonard was elected as the leader of the Scottish Labour Party in 2017 when he defeated Anas Sarwar to win with 56.7% of the vote. In the 2019 European Parliament election, the party lost its two seats in European Parliament for the Scotland constituency, and in the 2019 United Kingdom general election, the party lost six of its seven Scottish MPs.[1] Scottish Labour figures including Labour Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) had called for him to resign during 2020 over the party's poor performance in opinion polls.[2] A motion of no confidence in Leonard was proposed at the party's NEC but withdrawn due to a lack of support.[3] Leonard resigned on 14 January 2021, saying that speculation about his leadership was a distraction from the party's message.[4][5]
Procedure[]
On 16 January, the Scottish Labour Executive Committee met and approved the procedure and timetable for the leadership election.[6] Candidates needed to declare their intention to run by midnight on 17 January, with nominations opening the following day. To be formally nominated, a candidate needs to be nominated by at least four of the party's 23 MSPs or by the party's only MP, Ian Murray.[7]
Timetable[]
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 18 January | Nominations open |
| 19 January | Supporting nominations open; hustings period opens |
| 20 January | Latest date to join in order to vote |
| 26 January | Supporting nominations close |
| 9 February | Ballot opens |
| 26 February | Ballot closes |
| 27 February | Result announcement |
Campaign[]
On 16 January 2021, Anas Sarwar, the party's constitution spokesperson and a candidate in the 2017 Scottish Labour leadership election, announced in an article in The Guardian that he was standing in the election, saying that the Scottish Government should focus on achieving equality rather than independence.[8] On 18 January, over a quarter of Scottish Labour councillors signed a letter endorsing Sarwar as leader.[9]
Monica Lennon, the party's health spokesperson, announced she was standing on Twitter on 17 January.[7] In 2020, she had called for the Scottish Labour Party to split from the UK-wide Labour Party.[10]
On 19 January, it was announced that both candidates had received the required nominations for them to progress to the next stage.[11]
On the same day as both candidates received the required nominations for the next stage, Lennon told The Herald that she supported Scottish Labour being the party of devo-max and believed that the party should not block a second independence referendum. She did not support a referendum being held at the current time due to the "pandemic and the need for economic recovery."[12]
On 21 January, Sarwar published an article in LabourList establishing his priorities. In the article, he called for modernisation and professionalism in campaigning and set his agenda focusing on "poverty, inequality, schools, health and jobs."[13]
On 2 February, Lennon laid out her vision on ending child poverty within a decade which was published in the Daily Record. She pledged to increase the child payment to £30 a week, provide funding to councils to provide extra support and to provide affordable homes for all.[14]
On 9 February, BBC Scotland hosted a debate between the two candidates. Both candidates discussed their positions on Scottish independence, with Sarwar laying out his opposition to another referendum on independence. Additionally, both candidates suggested that Scottish income taxes should be increased, with Sarwar supporting a 5% increase for the highest tax band and a 2% increase for people earning over £100,000 while Lennon called for a 'national conversation' to look at the wider range of taxes while also supporting an increase for top earners.[15]
On 10 February, Lennon called for increased investment into broadband, claiming that her plan would improve productivity and innovation as well as generating More high skilled jobs. Her proposal was supported by the Communications Workers Union.[16]
On 15 February, Lennon was interviewed by LabourList in which she discussed her support for a 'third option' on any future independence referendum. Additionally she advocated for a 'bottom-up' approach to Labour's plans for devolution compared to the constitution commission established by the Leader of the National Party Keir Starmer.[17]
On 21 February, Lennon pledged to make free universal music tuition in state schools a manifesto pledge if she was elected leader, this policy was welcomed by Stuart Braithwaite.[18]
Lennon wrote an op-ed in Pink News, in which she voiced her support for reforming the Gender Recognition Act and criticised the SNP government for not doing it already. "I have spoken out to condemn the transphobia that so many trans and non-binary people face on a daily basis. I believe that we have a duty to stand by those who are being unfairly marginalised, and I will stand by the trans community now," she said. "Trans people should not have to go through a bureaucratic and dehumanising process to have the law recognise who they already are."[19]
Hustings[]
Several hustings were organised across late January to February.[20][21]
| Date | Hustings |
|---|---|
| 25 January 2021 | North East Scotland/Highlands & Islands |
| 30 January 2021 | West Scotland/Mid Scotland & Fife |
| 3 February 2021 | Glasgow/Central Scotland |
| 6 February 2021 | Lothian/South Scotland |
| 13 February 2021 | Scottish Labour Women’s Hustings |
| 16 February 2021 | LGBT+ Labour Scotland Hustings |
| 20 February 2021 | Scottish Young Labour Hustings |
Candidates[]
| Candidate | Born | Political office | Announced |
|---|---|---|---|
 Monica Lennon |
7 January 1981 Bellshill, Scotland |
Health spokesperson (since 2018) MSP for Central Scotland (since 2016) Communities spokesperson (2017–2018) |
17 January 2021[22][7] |
 Anas Sarwar |
14 March 1983 Glasgow, Scotland |
Constitution spokesperson (since 2020) MSP for Glasgow (since 2016) Deputy leader of the Scottish Labour Party (2011–2014) MP for Glasgow Central (2010–2015) |
16 January 2021[23] |
Declined[]
The following people were speculated about as potential candidates but declined to stand.
- Jackie Baillie, deputy leader, finance spokesperson, and MSP for Dumbarton[1][24]
- James Kelly, former justice spokesperson and MSP for Glasgow (endorsed Sarwar)[24][25]
- Ian Murray, shadow Scotland secretary and MP for Edinburgh South (endorsed Sarwar)[24][25]
Nominations[]
The table below shows the number of nominations achieved by each candidate. Both candidates have received enough nominations to proceed to the next stage.[26]
| Candidate | Labour MPs and MSPs | |
|---|---|---|
| Nominations | % | |
| Anas Sarwar | 17 / 24
|
71% |
| Monica Lennon | 5 / 24
|
21% |
List of nominations[]
Below is a list the MPs and MSPs who nominated each candidate. Both candidates also nominated themselves.[26]
Monica Lennon[]
- Neil Findlay, MSP for Lothian
- Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands
- Alex Rowley, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife
- Elaine Smith, MSP for Central Scotland
Anas Sarwar[]
- Claire Baker, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife
- Claudia Beamish, MSP for South Scotland
- Sarah Boyack, MSP for Lothian
- Neil Bibby, MSP for West Scotland
- Mary Fee, MSP for West Scotland
- Iain Gray, MSP for East Lothian
- Mark Griffin, MSP for Central Scotland
- Daniel Johnson, MSP for Edinburgh Southern
- James Kelly, MSP for Glasgow
- Johann Lamont, MSP for Glasgow
- Lewis Macdonald, MSP for North East Scotland
- Jenny Marra, MSP for North East Scotland
- Pauline McNeill, MSP for Glasgow
- Ian Murray, MP for Edinburgh South
- Colin Smyth, MSP for South Scotland
- David Stewart, MSP for Highlands and Islands
Endorsements and supporting nominations[]
Monica Lennon[]
Labour politicians[]
- Ged Killen, MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West from 2017 to 2019[27]
Organisations[]
- Unite the Union[28]
- UNISON Scotland Labour Link[29]
- Communication Workers Union (CWU) - Scotland Region[30]
- Scottish Labour Students[31]
- Socialist Health Association Scotland[32]
- Christians on the Left[33]
- Open Labour Scotland[34]
- Socialist Educational Association Scotland[35]
- Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA)[36]
- Socialist Campaign Group[37]
- Campaign for Socialism[38]
Anas Sarwar[]
Labour politicians[]
- Jack McConnell, First Minister of Scotland and leader of Scottish Labour from 2001 to 2007[25]
- Frank McAveety, former leader of Glasgow City Council and former minister for tourism, culture and sport[39]
- Gordon Brown, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and leader of the Labour Party from 2007 to 2010[40]
Organisations[]
- Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers (USDAW)[41]
- Labour Movement for Europe[26]
- BAME Labour Scotland[42]
- GMB (trade union)[43]
- Community[44]
- National Union of Mineworkers (NUM)[45]
- Jewish Labour Movement[46]
- Scottish Co-operative Party[47]
- Socialist Environment and Resources Association (SERA)[48]
Results[]
Results were announced on 27 February 2021.[49][50]
| Candidate | Party members |
Affiliated supporters |
Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % | % | % | ||
| Anas Sarwar | 61.21% | 49.31% | 57.56% | |
| Monica Lennon | 38.75% | 50.64% | 42.44% | |
Opinion polls[]
Best Leader[]
| Pollster | Client | Dates conducted |
Sample size |
Group | Monica Lennon |
Anas Sarwar |
Don’t know |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ipsos MORI Archived 26 February 2021 at the Wayback Machine | STV News | 15–21 Feb 2021 | 1,031 | All voters | 25% | 28% | 44% |
| 142 | Labour supporters | 35% | 40% | 25% | |||
| 209 | Conservative supporters | 21% | 34% | 40% | |||
| 456 | SNP supporters | 29% | 26% | 43% |
References[]
- ^ a b Press Association (14 January 2021). "What now for Scottish Labour after Richard Leonard quits as leader?". Glasgow Times. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
- ^ Andrews, Kieran (2 September 2020). "Labour MSP breaks ranks to demand Richard Leonard's departure". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
- ^ "No confidence vote in Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard withdrawn". BBC News. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
- ^ "Richard Leonard quits as Scottish Labour leader". BBC News. 14 January 2021. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
- ^ Rodgers, Sienna (14 January 2021). "Richard Leonard quits as Scottish Labour leader with immediate effect". LabourList. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
- ^ Rodgers, Sienna (16 January 2021). "Scottish Labour approves timetable to elect new leader by end of February". LabourList. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
- ^ a b c Duffy, Elle (17 January 2021). "Monica Lennon launches bid to become next Scottish Labour leader". The Herald. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
- ^ Helm, Toby (16 January 2021). "Anas Sarwar: 'I'll rebuild Labour party in Scotland'". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 17 January 2021.
- ^ Rodgers, Sienna (18 January 2021). "66 Scottish Labour councillors sign letter backing Anas Sarwar for leader". LabourList. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ "Monica Lennon to stand in Scottish Labour leadership contest". BBC News. 18 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ Rodgers, Sienna (19 January 2021). "Sarwar and Lennon win nominations needed in Scottish leadership race". LabourList. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
- ^ Gordon, Tom (19 January 2021). "Lennon says Labour should push for Devo Max not block Indyref2". HeraldScotland. Retrieved 22 January 2021.
- ^ Sarwar, Anas (21 January 2021). "My plan for how Scottish Labour will take on the SNP and the Tories". LabourList. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
- ^ Philip, Andy (26 January 2021). "Monica Lennon says Scottish Labour could end child poverty 'within a decade'". Daily Record. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
- ^ "Scottish Labour leadership: Lennon and Sarwar clash on indyref2 mandate". BBC News. 8 February 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
- ^ Merson, Adele (10 February 2021). "Monica Lennon: Broadband investment plan could create 23,000 jobs". Press and Journal. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ Rodgers, Sienna (15 February 2021). "Monica Lennon: "I'm determined to show Scottish Labour in a new light"". LabourList. Retrieved 15 February 2021.
- ^ "Mogwai star backs call for free music lessons in schools". STV News. 21 February 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
- ^ Lennon, Monica (24 February 2021). "'The SNP has failed trans people. If elected Scottish Labour leader, I'll stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the community'". PinkNews. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
- ^ "Scottish Labour 2021 Leadership Election". Scottish Labour. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
- ^ LGBT+ Labour Scotland [@LGBTLabScot] (8 February 2021). "Our hustings for the @scottishlabour leadership election with @MonicaLennon7 and @AnasSarwar takes place a week tomorrow on Tuesday 16th February at 7pm
Information on how to register, take part and put your questions to our candidates will be in your email