Katy Clark will run for Scottish Labour deputy leader

Katy Clark, MP for North Ayrshire and Arran, has announced that she will run for deputy leader of the Scottish Labour Party. The position is vacant following Anas Sarwar’s resignation on Thursday night, and the contest will run alongside the race for leader. A timetable for the deputy leadership has yet to be formalised, and Sarwar will remain interim leader until December 13th.

Clark has been an MP since 2005, and is seen as a left-winger within the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP). In a statement on her website, she said:

“I have submitted a declaration to the Scottish Labour Party that I intend to stand for deputy leader and will be seeking nominations from colleagues over the weekend. I wish to pay tribute to both Johann Lamont and Anas Sarwar for the leadership they have provided to Scottish Labour over the last 3 years. This however is not about individuals. We must recognise that  Scottish politics has changed and it can’t be business as usual. The vast majority of people want a secure job, a decent home and access to good quality public services. This is prevented for too many by wealth being held in the hands  of a minority. It is unacceptable in the 21st century that people have to queue at a foodbank to feed their children. These are the issues I will be addressing throughout the campaign. I will make a full statement on Monday.”

It is likely that some pressure had been put on Sarwar to stand down to ensure that the Scottish Labour’s leadership team would not be comprised solely of Westminster MPs or of men – however, there are no rules in place that prohibit either.