Jim Murphy apologises to Scottish voters for Labour failings

Jim Murphy Mr Murphy will formally launch his leadership campaign in Edinburgh

A candidate for the Scottish Labour leadership has apologised to voters for the party's failings.

Jim Murphy admitted that a "lack of vision" and failing to listen to voters had led to the party being rejected in previous elections.

And the MP said he wanted the party's supporters to feel "passion and pride" in voting for it.

MSPs Sarah Boyack and Neil Findlay are also standing in the contest to replace Johann Lamont, who quit last Friday.

Ms Lamont accused the Labour Party of treating Scotland as a "branch office" when she stood down - a charge that has been rejected by its UK leader Ed Miliband.

Scottish Labour is also seeking a new deputy leader after Anas Sarwar announced he was also stepping down, although he will continue as interim leader of the party until a permanent successor to Ms Lamont is chosen.

Opinion polls

No candidates for the deputy leadership have so far come forward.

On Thursday, opinion polls by Ipsos/Mori and YouGov suggested Labour faces the prospect of losing the vast majority of its Scottish seats to the SNP in next May's general election.

Data from the YouGov poll released on Saturday also suggested that Scotland would vote "Yes" to independence if another referendum were held today - just six weeks after a majority voted "No".

The poll put support for independence at 52% compared with 48% in favour of the Union once undecided voters were excluded.

graphic showing results of two Scottish opinion polls

Speaking ahead of the formal launch of his leadership campaign in Edinburgh on Saturday, Mr Murphy said he believed Labour had failed to listen to voters who rejected the party in the 2007 and 2011 Holyrood elections.

And he acknowledged that the party had to change if it was to turn around its fortunes.

He said: "The Scottish people want change - they couldn't be clearer. They also want better and many want Labour to be part of that improvement.

"But when they look at us they think we've not listened. It sure looks like that from where they sit, so who can blame them?

"I want to apologise because twice Scots have said they didn't think we were good enough to govern in Scotland - in 2007 and 2011. We didn't listen to them. That has to change."

Mr Murphy said he wanted a Labour Party that was as "proud and confident as the country we seek to govern" and that he wanted people to feel "passion and pride" in voting for it.

What's the Labour leadership timetable?

Date Event

Friday, 31 October

Nominations officially open

Tuesday, 4 November

Nominations officially close

Monday, 17 November

Voting gets under way

Saturday, 13 December

New leader elected

But he admitted: "For that to happen I know that I have to apologise because too many Scots thought we weren't up to the job in the past.

"It's not our ideals that are out of kilter with Scotland. Scots have backed us to run the UK. All of our previous Scottish Labour Party leaders are proud and passionate servants of our party and our country.

"Scots back us to run many of Scotland's great cities.

"Let's be honest, it's our vision for Scotland. Or more truthfully our lack of vision. We have been rejected and now we need to change."

'Radical agenda'

Mr Murphy, the former Scottish secretary and current shadow for international development, is the bookmakers' favourite for the leadership role.

He is seen as being on the political right of the party, with some colleagues concerned about his support for Tony Blair, nuclear weapons and the Iraq war.

Bob Thomson, a former chairman of Scottish Labour who campaigned in favour of independence ahead of the referendum, said he did not believe the East Renfrewshire MP was the right man for the job.

He told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme: "I would back Neil Findlay because of his record. I think as a health spokesman he has been very good and I think he has got the things he has been saying correct with Labour voters.

"I think the radical agenda he has spelt out is one - we have not been radical enough, we have not connected with what I think voters are looking for."

Neil Findlay and Sarah Boyack Neil Findlay and Sarah Boyack are also standing for the Scottish Labour leadership

Mr Findlay announced his intention to stand earlier this week.

He said he wants to work for progressive change and "create a fairer, more equal and prosperous Scotland".

"If elected Labour leader, I will put the issue of social justice at the heart of everything we do - this is the historic mission of the Scottish Labour Party but it also has to be about what we deliver for the Scottish people in this post-referendum period," Mr Findlay said.

Ms Boyack co-chaired the review of Scottish Labour with Mr Murphy in 2011, which was designed to make the Scottish leader head of the entire party in Scotland, including MPs, MSPs, MEPs and officials.

She announced her intention to stand on Tuesday.

She said: "Scottish Labour is going to be the key party in the run-up to the UK elections. It's absolutely crucial that we get an Ed Miliband government elected.

"So, that's why I believe in putting my name forward. I can work with colleagues and I can take that debate forward. That is the key thing.

"I did the review of the Labour Party just a couple of years ago. There's unfinished business there.

"But the key thing is, what does the Labour Party stand for, how can we work together and how can we support people around the country?"

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