Keir Starrmer agreed to put winning Scottish seats at the heart of Labour’s general election campaign at a meeting of the Shadow Cabinet.
It came after Scots Labour leader Anas Sarwar stressed the importance of making gains north of the border.
Labour used to dominate Scottish politics, but the party was nearly wiped out at the 2015 general election and has struggled at the ballot box ever since.
However, with the Tories and the SNP struggling, Labour is polling at around 30 per cent, only 10 points behind the Nationalists.
If the gap continues to narrow, party insiders believe Labour could win dozens of seats.
Starmer, who has been a regular visitor to Scotland of late, convened a shadow cabinet meeting at which Sarwar briefed colleagues.
An insider said that without improving in Scotland Labour would need to be 15 points ahead to topple the Tories across the UK, adding:
“With support in Scotland, it falls down to 9.”
A Scottish Labour spokesperson said: “Today, Anas Sarwar met the U.K. Shadow Cabinet and set out how the road to a Labour government runs through Scotland.
“Labour has committed to re-doubling its efforts in Scotland.
“Only a Labour government can kick the Tories out of Downing St, tackle the cost of living crisis and re-build our NHS“
A Labour source said: “This is an expression of confidence from Scottish Labour.
“While the SNP implode, Scottish Labour is laying out the change Scotland needs.
“There will be no pictures of Keir Starmer in the SNP’s pockets.”
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