Michael Marra elected Scottish Labour leader

Michael Marra has been elected leader of the Scottish Labour Party, succeeding Anas Sarwar who resigned to join the government. The position is described by Sarwar as the "hardest job in British politics." Marra, a North East Scotland MSP, won the leadership with 4,266 votes, defeating Joe Fagan by 1,781 votes. Labour suffered its worst result in devolution history in the May Scottish Parliament elections, returning only 17 MSPs.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham congratulated Marra and pledged his support, expressing his eagerness to collaborate for a brighter future in Scotland. Marra, who previously served as Scottish Labour's education and finance spokespersons, emphasized unity and delivering change during his campaign. He acknowledged the immense responsibility of leading Labour, stating it is "the honor of my life."

In his victory speech, Marra expressed gratitude for the trust placed in him and reaffirmed his commitment to advancing the party's goal of a fairer, more equal Scotland.