Who could be Scottish Labour’s 11th leader since devolution?

With Anas Sarwar set to quit as Scottish Labour leader so he can take up a post in the Lords and then government, that leaves the party once more on the lookout for someone to take over the helm.

The party has had a turbulent time since devolution, meaning whoever succeeds him will be the 11th to take on the role since 1999.

And with the Labour group in parliament now the smallest it's ever been, and little in the way of optimism about the party’s prospects, who might the contenders be?

Michael Marra

First elected in 2021, the Dundee-born MSP had long been talked up as a possible future leader.

He has been the party’s finance spokesperson for the last three years, leading the response to the budget, and was education spokesperson for two before then.

Broadly seen as a moderate, he is unlikely to shift Scottish Labour’s direction too far from where it’s been under Sarwar.

He won Holyrood’s One To Watch award in 2021.

Paul Sweeney

The Glasgow architecture enthusiast might fancy his chances as a candidate from the left of the party.

First elected to Westminster in 2017, during which time he was the shadow Scottish minister under Jeremy Corbyn, he was cast out again in the 2019 general election.

He became a Glasgow list MSP in 2021 and has held a couple of shadow ministerial portfolios since, though never progressed to shadow Cabinet.

Monica Lennon

Lennon was first elected in 2016 and lost her seat in May, after losing both the Rutherglen constituency and being fourth on the list in Glasgow.

But with Anas Sarwar set to leave Holyrood, she will be his replacement as a Glasgow MSP – and may also seek to replace him as leader.

She lost to Sarwar in the 2021 leadership election, securing 42 per cent of the vote, and is another voice on the left of the party. It is unlikely that both she and Sweeney would stand.

Jackie Baillie

The Dumbarton stalwart has frequently shied away from running for the top job, despite many calls for her to stand, meaning she’d likely be a shoo-in if she did go for it.

Baillie is one of only two MSPs to have been in parliament since 1999 – the other being John Swinney – and is experienced and respected within and outwith her party.

She has been deputy leader since 2020, has acted as interim leader on two occasions (and will again shortly, once Sarwar formally resigns), and has held a number of portfolios, most recently health.

Daniel Johnson

A parliamentarian for ten years, the Edinburgh Southern MSP is not often mentioned as a possible leader, but he has been trusted with a number of high-profile frontbench roles – most recently business and economy.

He previously was managing director of an independent retailer and has talked openly about his struggles dealing with that while having undiagnosed ADHD.

Others

Long-time Sarwar ally Neil Bibby has frequently sat in the background, briefly as chief whip and then as transport spokesperson for the last five years. Perhaps now is his time to step into the limelight.

Newbie MSP Katherine Sangster, who was previously director of thinktank Scottish Fabians, is well thought of and could consider it.

Experienced councillor Joe Fagan may also fancy his chances. He led South Lanarkshire Council from May 2022 until standing down after he was elected to the parliament.