IT was supposed to be a bonding session to heal Scottish Labour and help leader Richard Leonard outline his vision of the future.
But the party’s recent MSP away day in Glasgow left some feeling more confused than ever about Labour’s future direction.
Leonard’s presentation to his warring colleagues included an analysis of the party’s woes that was as unusual as it was baffling: DxVxF>R.
The so-called “change formula” has its roots in the world of management consultancy and is aimed at helping organisations reach their potential.
However, others are sceptical that the formula is the basis of political transformation and believe its use at the brainstorming session is another sign Leonard is struggling to find credible solutions.
An SNP spokesperson said: "With a leader with all the charisma of a management consultant, it's no surprise others in the Labour group are looking for a formula for change."
Scottish Labour was the pre-eminent political force for decades, but the party has withered over the last twelve years.
The party lost power to the SNP twelve years ago and slipped to third place behind the Tories in elections in 2016 and 2017.
Leonard, a left-winger, became Scottish Labour’s ninth leader in the devolution era on a promise of renewal, but he has also struggled. At the recent European election, his party came fifth after tumbling to 9%.
His group of MSPs is also divided and his staunch opposition to a second independence referendum was undermined when shadow chancellor John McDonnell said that a Labour Government would not block indyref2.
It was against this backdrop of decline that Leonard and his MSPs met at the party’s Bath Street headquarters for an away day last month.
MSPs listened to polling expert John Curtice give his take on the current political situation and sessions on campaigning and media messaging were also provided.
However, it was the leader’s own presentation that is said to have posed more questions than it offered answers.
The “change formula” was created by David Gleicher in the 1960s when he worked for the Arthur D Little management consultancy.
Described as a model that assesses the “likely success of organisational change programs”, the formula was refined in the 1980s by author Kathie Dannemiller.
The “D” stands for “dissatisfaction” with how things are, “V” is the vision of what it is possible, and “F” is the “first” step towards the vision.
According to the theory, if the product of these three factors is greater than the “R” in the formula, which stands for “resistance”, then change is possible.
One party source said Leonard’s chief of staff, Lesley Brennan, who has a background in management consultancy, was likely responsible for the formula being included in the presentation: “Our problem is that ‘resistance’ is the voters. They don’t like us.”
Another insider said: “This kind of managerial jargon is the last thing we need as we try to reconnect with voters. All our opponents have clear, straightforward messages on the constitutional issues dominating politics, while we’ve got DxVxF>R.”
Scottish Tory MSP Donald Cameron said: “These bizarre political equations show what a mess Labour are in. They completely lack direction at the moment, and it’s no wonder their MSPs were baffled.
“Instead of being presented with a coherent plan they were given this nonsense.”
A Scottish Labour spokesperson said: “As with any organisation, we don’t and won’t divulge details of a private, internal meeting.”
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