SCOTTISH Labour will not beat the SNP by trying to outmanoeuvre Nicola Sturgeon's party from either the Left or the Right, Jim Murphy has insisted.

 

The former Scottish Secretary, who is tipped as the favourite to become the party's new leader, said: "The Labour Party beats the SNP by building our own coalition of voters not by exclusively trying to outmanoeuvre the SNP to the Left.

"There's no future for the Scottish Labour Party in trying to outmanoeuvre the SNP from either the Left or the Right. Anyone who says that's the way to go misunderstands both the Labour Party history and the current SNP's success. We've got to be a better social democratic party than the SNP."

With the ballots now closed, all eyes are on Saturday when the results for the deputy leadership and the leadership will be announced.

While the MP for East Renfrewshire is the frontrunner to beat Lothian leftwinger Neil Findlay and his MSP colleague Sarah Boyack, the nature of the electoral college system means there is a deal of uncertainty.

Insiders suggest that while Mr Murphy is ahead in the parliamentary section, Mr Findlay has won most of the trade union votes; which, if true, means it will come down to who is the most preferred candidate among the ordinary party members. Ms Boyack is not expected to win.

Meantime, Kezia Dugdale, another Lothian MSP, is widely tipped to become the party's new deputy leader.

Both contests were set in train by the acrimonious resignation in October of Johann Lamont, who complained that the Scottish party had become a "branch office" of the party in London.

Mr Murphy stressed, while he understood Ms Lamont's frustration, he did not agree with her sentiment but made clear that, if he succeeded her, he would not be bossed around by Ed Miliband or anyone else.

"I'm my own man. The Scottish Labour Party is its own organisation...I'm big enough and ugly enough not to be pushed around by people. I don't know what happened with Johann in relationship to people in other parts of the UK party. Whatever happened won't be repeated. I'll be in charge."

The former International Development Secretary made clear that on all devolved matters "the responsibility begins and ends with the Scottish Labour Party to make its own decisions".

He explained that he wanted a more self-sufficient and self-confident Scottish party and that it was "inevitable there will be policy divergence" from the UK party.

Mr Murphy accepted, given the low poll ratings, Scottish Labour had a mountain to climb but with application and determination - the Christmas holiday will be cancelled if he wins - it could beat the SNP at the General Election.

"I'm not doing this as a kamikaze mission," declared the MP. "I know we can win. I wouldn't be doing it if I didn't think we could win; I'm not doing it to lose."

He defended his change of heart in backing the full devolution of income tax, saying: "In an attempt to bring our nation back together, we can't have a winner takes all attitude to the referendum. The 44.7 per cent who voted Yes, you genuinely have to reach out, and that's what partly changed my mind. I went round the country and almost no one wanted the status quo."

This week, Mr Murphy received the backing of his colleague Margaret Curran, the Shadow Scottish Secretary.

While Mr Miliband is, in public, keeping neutral, in private, it is thought he is backing Mr Murphy, whose "stock is running very high" with the Labour leader, says sources, following the East Renfrewshire MP's 100 towns in 100 days referendum tour.

Asked who he would ring first if he wins on Saturday, the ex-Secretary of State paused and said it would not be Mr Miliband or his wife. "My mum."