JIM Murphy has entered the race for the Scottish Labour leadership with a pledge to "bring Scotland back together" following the divisive referendum campaign and to make the country fairer and more prosperous.
The Shadow International Development Secretary, breaking a five-day media silence, announced tonight: "I'm standing for First Minister of Scotland and I intend to win.
"I want to bring Scotland back together after the referendum. There is so much to be proud of in Scotland but so much we have to change. I've travelled to every part of our country and I know that people want us to get on with tackling poverty and increasing prosperity. As leader of Scottish Labour and as First Minister of Scotland that is exactly what I will do."
In a separate interview, the East Renfrewshire MP said: "It is time for a fresh start for the Scottish Labour party.
"I am proud of Labour Party and I am proud of Scotland - but I am not satisfied.
"I want to strike a tone that stops the Scottish Labour Party from committing self harm. I want to unite the Labour Party but more importantly I want to bring the country back together after the referendum.
"I am not going to shout at or about the SNP, I am going to talk to and listen to Scotland and I am very clear that the job I am applying for is to be the First Minister of Scotland."
The 47-year-old, who has spent the past few days assembling a campaign team to contest the leadership, will officially launch his candidacy at an event on Saturday.
His announcement means he becomes the third candidate in the race for the Scottish Labour crown after left-winger Neil Findlay MSP declared his intention to stand earlier yesterday.
The Shadow Scottish Health Minister joined fellow Lothians MSP Sarah Boyack in the race to replace Johann Lamont, who resigned last week with a scathing parting shot against her Labour colleagues in London, whom she accused of treating Scotland like a "branch office".
Mr Murphy, who has maintained a media blackout since Ms Lamont's resignation, was said to have been in Edinburgh yesterday, garnering support from MSP colleagues.
Labour left-winger Ian Davidson, the MP for Glasgow South, accused him of staging a Blairite "coup", insisting Ms Lamont had been treated shamefully by the frontbencher's allies.
In a clear swipe at the East Renfrewshire MP, he added: "I don't think we can have an MP as leader, who has not expressed a previous interest in standing for Holyrood, but only wants to go in as leader."
In contrast, one Westminster supporter of Mr Murphy insisted: "He is the right man. We need a leader who leads," adding: "Jim needs to hit the ground running from December 13." This is the date when the new leader will be announced following a six-week contest, which will include hustings across Scotland.
Yesterday, Mr Murphy held "friendly" talks in the Commons with his leader Ed Miliband, whom it has been said he has not seen eye to eye with in recent years; the Scot was demoted to his current International Development brief from the more high profile Defence portfolio. It is believed the Labour leader initially wanted Gordon Brown to succeed Ms Lamont.
Tonight, it is expected both Mr Murphy and Mr Miliband will be at the party's gala dinner in Glasgow.
Announcing his own decision to stand, Mr Findlay said: "I have been overwhelmed by the messages of support from people from within the Labour Party and across the wider Labour movement all urging me to stand."
He admitted he had been no secret he wanted Mr Brown to run but the former Prime Minister ruled himself out earlier this week, making clear he did not want to return to frontline politics.
"I want to bring the Labour Party together to work for progressive change and create a fairer, more equal and prosperous Scotland," declared Mr Findlay.
He added: "If elected Labour leader, I will put the issue of social justice at heart of everything we do; this is the historic mission of the Scottish Labour Party but it also has to be about what we deliver for the Scottish people in this post-referendum period."
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