ANAS Sarwar has refused to blame Westminster policies and colleagues south of the Border for causing a collapse in support for Scottish Labour.
The leader's comments come after polling found John Swinney is on track to lead the SNP into a third decade in power at Holyrood in 2026.
Sarwar’s message to voters in Scotland will be launched next year and will “centre around public service reform", according to Scotland on Sunday.
Recent figures showed Scottish Labour would return just 20 MSPs with just 21% of Scots saying they would vote Labour on the constituency ballot – down nine points on Norstat’s poll in August.
However, Sarwar said he was "confident" voters would back him against SNP.
He said: “I honestly believe that once we get the frame of the choice in 2026 and it’s clear the choice is between more of the same managed decline with the SNP or a new direction with Scottish Labour, I’m confident that’s an election that we can compete in but also win.
“When I took on this job three and a bit years ago, we were 32 points behind the SNP. When we were 18 months out from a general election we were well behind the SNP. We went on to win that election.
“I’m confident over the next 18 months with hard work, humility and energy, we can persuade people and we can win the election in 2026. But we’ve got work to do and I’m determined to do it.”
Sarwar went on to defend the Westminster Government and Keir Starmer.
Both leaders have seen their approval rating plummet since August. Starmer's went from -5 to -32 and Sarwar’s from -8 to -17.
Sarwar said: “Have there been challenges - what I would call teething problems as a former dentist? Of course there have been.
“But I think people out there can recognise that an incoming Labour Government had to clear up a 14-year mess, can’t do everything straight away, will have to make some difficult decisions - that’s the reality of being an incoming UK Labour Government.
“What I’m focused on is how we speak for Scotland, champion Scotland and deliver for Scotland.”
He added: “This approach of blaming Westminster for all our problems but also waiting somehow for Westminster to fix all our problems, I’m not willing to do that. I’m not willing to wait for Westminster to fix all our problems.
“We have the powers here, we have the resources here, we have the talent here, we have the power here. What we don’t have is the government here that taps into that to deliver for the people of Scotland.
“That’s the argument I can’t wait to have come the election in 2026.”
With Scottish Labour on course for 20 MSPs, polling expert John Curtice said the party may be bleeding support to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, who could gain 13 seats – ahead of the LibDems and Greens.
