THE left-wing MP Katy Clark yesterday became the first candidate to apply for the deputy leadership of the Scottish Labour party.
Clark, the MP for North Ayrshire and Arran, also declared her support for MSP Neil Findlay, opening up the possibility of joint ticket for the left.
In a statement on her website, the 47-year-old said: "We must recognise that Scottish politics has changed. The vast majority of people want a secure job, a decent home and good quality public services. This is prevented by wealth being held in the hands of a minority. These are the issues I will be addressing."
Kezia Dugdale, the Lothians MSP who is Labour's education spokeswoman at Holyrood who has been an MSP since 2011, was also confirmed as a candidate for deputy last night.
Although the Clark camp denied she had struck a deal with Findlay, union sources indicated the MP and Findlay were very likely to campaign in a left-wing alliance aimed at denying the Scottish leadership to the Blairite MP Jim Murphy.
The transport union the TSSA yesterday said Findlay and Clark would "represent the workable alternative to the market-driven madness that is causing so much harm". Unison and other unions are expected to recommend Clark, reinforcing the impression of a left-right split between Murphy and the others.
The vacancy for the deputy leadership opened up on Thursday when Anas Sarwar announced he would leave the post in mid-December.
The Glasgow Central MP eventually gave in to growing pressure to go in order to avoid two MPs leading the Scottish party, which would have been a gift to the SNP, who claim the party is run by London. Party sources say his reward will be the position of shadow Scottish Secretary.
Margaret Curran, the MP for Glasgow East, is tipped to get Murphy's current position, shadow international development secretary.
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