TOM Harris, the only Westminster politician bidding to lead Scottish Labour, has failed to convince a single MSP to nominate him for the job, he confirmed last night.
Harris, the MP for Glasgow South, has used the backing of fellow MPs and one of Scotland’s two MEPs, David Martin, to get on the ballot.
He admitted the lack of MSP support was “a handicap”. Candidates must get backing from at least 10 of Labour’s 80 Scots parliamentarians, including one from another parliament.
Eastwood MSP Ken Macintosh was nominated by nine of Labour’s 37 MSPs, three of its 41 Scots MPs, and MEP Catherine Stihler. Glasgow Pollok MSP Johann Lamont was nominated by 14 MSPs and three MPs.
Last week Harris announced he had enough backers to stand. however, all his declared support so far is from outside Holyrood, undermining his credibility. “I would much prefer an MSP but there’s quite a body of opinion among our MSPs that an MP should not do the job,” he said.
“I disagree with them on that but I can understand why they have that view.”
The new Scottish leader will be announced on December 17.
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