Labour MSP Michael Marra has been elected Scottish Labour leader with a near two-thirds majority, replacing Anas Sarwar and vowing to reconnect with Scotland.
Key facts
- Michael Marra elected Scottish Labour's 11th leader with almost two-thirds of the vote.
- He is the MSP for North East Scotland.
- He succeeds Anas Sarwar, who resigned in July to join Andy Burnham's Westminster government as a trade minister.
- In one of his first acts, Marra backed the Rosebank and Jackdaw North Sea oil and gasfields.
- Marra vowed to 'reconnect' with Scotland and called for a 'more rational' approach to energy policy.
Michael Marra has been elected as the new leader of the Scottish Labour party, winning almost two-thirds of the vote to lead the party in Holyrood, according to the Guardian. The MSP for North East Scotland becomes Scottish Labour’s 11th leader.
Marra replaces Anas Sarwar, who made what the Guardian described as a shock decision to resign in July. Sarwar quit Holyrood to join Andy Burnham’s new Westminster government as a trade minister.
In his first remarks as leader, Marra vowed to ‘reconnect’ with Scotland, the Guardian reported. He faces what the outlet characterised as an uphill battle to reverse the party’s fortunes.
In one of his first acts after being elected, Marra backed the development of the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gasfields in the North Sea. He called for a ‘more rational’ approach to energy policy.
The leadership vote took place on Saturday, with Marra securing a near two-thirds majority to lead the party in Holyrood.
The change in leadership follows Sarwar’s move to national government, leaving Scottish Labour to select a new figure to steer the party at Holyrood.
Why it matters
Scottish Labour's leadership sets the party's direction at Holyrood at a challenging time for the party. Marra's early support for North Sea oil and gas signals a potential shift in energy policy that could shape debate in Scotland and beyond.
Frequently asked questions
Who did Michael Marra replace as Scottish Labour leader?
He replaced Anas Sarwar, who resigned in July to join Andy Burnham's new Westminster government as a trade minister.
What is Michael Marra's position on North Sea oil and gas?
Marra backed the development of the Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gasfields in the North Sea, calling for a 'more rational' approach to energy policy.
How large was Marra's winning margin?
According to the Guardian, Marra won almost two-thirds of the vote to lead the party in Holyrood.