MICHAEL Marra has been elected as the new Scottish Labour leader – taking over from now Lord Anas Sarwar.
He inherits a party coming off its worst-ever Holyrood election result, with Labour’s vote share and seat count collapsing as the SNP held relatively firm and Reform UK and the Scottish Greens making notable gains.
Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland on Monday, Jack McConnell – who was first minister and Scottish Labour leader between 2001 and 2007 – said Marra has a “big challenge” ahead of him to attract voters.
But if my recent walk through Glasgow is anything to go by, his first task is even more basic: to be recognised at all.
Speaking with Scots in the city centre and armed with a printout of Marra’s face, just one person I spoke with could name him.
One older woman said he “looks like a crook”, while another described as “just another stooge” for the Labour Party.
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Having worked for Dundee University prior to entering politics, Marra was made Scottish Labour’s education spokesperson in 2021.
The former Dundee councillor then went on to become his party’s finance spokesperson some two years later.
He describes himself as being “rooted in Labour”, telling party members during the campaign how he went on trade union marches as a child with his sister and his parents.
The leadership contest was triggered after Sarwar stood down in July, despite initially vowing to remain in the role following the party’s election defeat.
During his victory speech, Marra went on to thank his “friend and predecessor” Anas Sarwar.
“He took over a party that was out on its feet – he strapped on his boots and he took us to a place where we led the charge in kicking the Tories out of Downing Street.
“Thank you Anas, for everything you have done for our party.”
