New Clause IV to be discussed by Scottish Labour today

Jim Murphy announced late last year that he planned to rewrite Scottish Labour’s Clause IV – and tomorrow that redrafted Clause will be put to the party’s Scottish Executive Committee (SEC) at a meeting in Glasgow.

The intention of the wording is to cement the powers of the Scottish Parliament into the constitution of the Scottish Labour Party, by making clear where power lies when it comes to policy-making in the party.

Speaking ahead of the meeting, Murphy said:

“When I spoke just after being elected leader I said that Scottish Labour needed to change to be stronger for Scotland. Under my leadership no-one will be left in any doubt that we call the shots in Scotland, that we stand up for Scotland and we put Scotland first.

“I’ve already spoken about Labour supporters who voted ‘Yes’ in the referendum and how we intend to win them back. ‘Yes’ voters wanted change and I will deliver that. With me, voting for and joining Scottish Labour will be supporting a Party that is committed to a permanent, powerful Scottish Parliament.

“Already this week Boris Johnson has called Scottish Labour plans for 1000 extra nurses ‘vindictive’. Well, I’m never going to apologise for using taxes raised across the UK to fund the Scottish NHS. I will always make policy in Scotland that is for the good of the country. The new Clause 4 sets the principles behind my leadership in stone.”

We’ll bring you the full wording of Scottish Labour’s proposed new Clause IV when it’s revealed later today.