Scottish Labour leadership race heats up amid misogyny accusations

Michael Marra has launched his bid to become the leader of Scottish Labour, positioning himself as a unifying figure for the party after two decades of SNP rule. He is one of four declared contenders, alongside Joe Fagan, Katy Clark and Monica Lennon, but only Marra and Fagan have secured the backing of the three MSPs and MPs required to appear on the ballot.

Monica Lennon, a Glasgow MSP, criticised the leadership contest as being dominated by "misogyny and male entitlement" and warned that the exclusion of women could lead to an all‑male ballot. In a post on X she said the process feels like a "private members’ club" that places personal and factional ties above principles. Lennon’s bid has stalled because she has not yet gained the necessary support from fellow left‑wing MSPs, including Katy Clark and Carol Mochan, while internal disagreements over trans‑rights have further complicated her campaign.

The contest is shaping up as a test of Scottish Labour’s ability to renew itself and present a credible alternative to the SNP, with the outcome likely to influence the party’s direction and its appeal to working‑class voters across Scotland.