MICHAEL MARRA ELECTED NEW LEADER OF SCOTTISH LABOUR

Michael Marra has been elected as the new leader of Scottish Labour, succeeding Anas Sarwar. Marra, the regional MSP for North East Scotland, defeated Joe Fagan in a ballot of party members, with the result announced in Edinburgh on Saturday morning. He won 4,266 votes, 63% of the total, against 2,485 votes, or 37%, for Fagan, with turnout recorded at 6,751. Marra becomes Scottish Labour's 11th leader of the devolution era, excluding those who served on an interim basis. According to one report, Sarwar left Holyrood to take up a position in Andy Burnham's government at Westminster.

Marra first entered Holyrood in 2021 and has since served as shadow education secretary and shadow finance secretary. The leadership contest followed Sarwar's resignation in July, after he had initially said he intended to remain in post following Scottish Labour's defeat at the Holyrood election in May. That election saw the party return just 17 MSPs, its worst result since devolution began, according to reports of the contest. Marra also contributed to drawing up Scottish Labour's manifesto for the 2026 Holyrood election before becoming leader. Fagan, his rival in the leadership race, received more than a third of the vote.

During his campaign, Marra pledged to devolve power across the party, saying he wanted to "rebuild a movement that belongs to its members, trade unions, and communities." He now leads Scottish Labour into preparations for the 2026 Holyrood election, the manifesto for which he helped shape. No further details on the transition of Sarwar's other party responsibilities have been announced. The contest, launched after Sarwar's resignation in July, has concluded with Marra's confirmation as the party's new leader.