Monica Lennon fails in Labour leadership bid as nominations close

The Scottish Labour leadership contest will be a head-to-head between Michael Marra and Joe Fagan after Monica Lennon failed to get onto the ballot.

Lennon has won re-entry to Holyrood as a list MSP in the stead of former leader Anas Sarwar, who has left the Scottish Parliament for the Lords.

However, she has failed to secure the backing of enough MSPs and MPs to become an official candidate to replace Sarwar as leader.

Nominations closed at 10am this morning, with just one MSP – deputy presiding officer Katy Clark – backing Lennon.

Minimum requirements include the backing of three MSPs, three MPs and three trade unions or affiliated organisations.

Only two MPs – Brian Leishman and Euan Stainbank – made Lennon their official choice.

In a statement, the party said: "At the close of nominations, we can confirm that two candidates have been successful in meeting the threshold required to be eligible for the ballot. 

"The two candidates eligible to be put before a ballot for the leadership are Michael Marra and Joe Fagan. 

"A ballot of members and affiliated supporters will open on Friday, August 28. This ballot will close on Thursday, September 17 at 5pm. The winner of the leadership contest will be announced on Saturday, September 19."

Lennon was the first hopeful to announce she would run to replace Sarwar, who has joined Andy Burnham's government as trade minister.

She was still campaigning as the clock run down, posting on social media this morning.

After the deadline passed, she said the party is "stuck in the past", stating: "This leadership contest should have been a wide debate, rooted in courage, humility and the imagination to become a modern political party for workers and working class communities in Scotland."

Offering a message to candidates, she went on: "Scotland's young people deserve a Scottish Labour Party who will stand up to billionaires and the wealthy elite. Their future is on the line.

"Our planet is burning and hope is fading. Punching down on trans people and other minorities is not acceptable. Do better, lead with decency and act with courage."

Marra, who served in Sarwar's shadow cabinet, has been an MSP since 2021 and secured more than twice as many nominations from parliamentarians as former council leader Fagan, who entered Holyrood in May.

Marra also leads on support from trade unions and affiliates and constituency Labour parties (CLPs).