Jim Murphy presents modernisation plans on last day as Scottish Labour leader

Jim Murphy will today stand down as leader of the Scottish Labour Party, exactly six months after being elected to the role. Murphy overwhelmingly won December’s ballot, with 56% of first preferences, but came under increasing pressure after an SNP wipeout in May’s election left Labour with just one seat in Scotland. Murphy himself lost the East Renfrewshire seat he had represented for 18 years.

Despite winning an internal vote of confidence on the Scottish Executive Committee, Murphy announced on May 16th that he would be standing down as leader. Two weeks ago, we reported that Murphy was planning to stand down after presenting a case for party reform to the SEC today:

“He also said that he would step down from the leadership position after presenting suggested internal reforms to Scottish Labour’s executive. HeraldScotland have reported that this will take place on 13th June, meaning Murphy is expected to go then.

Scottish Labour’s Constitution working group will meet in the coming week to decide how the leadership contest will be fought – namely whether it will be decided through one-member-one-vote (OMOV) or through the existing three part electoral college.”

Today’s meeting lasted four hours and an announcement is expected from Murphy shortly.

The race to succeed Murphy already has two candidates: MSPs Kezia Dugdale and Ken Macintosh.

UPDATE: Here is Jim Murphy’s letter of resignation:

Dear Jamie

Last month, after winning the vote of confidence of the Executive of the Scottish Labour Party, I indicated my intention to resign. I said I would do so after I had submitted a set of proposals for the modernisation of the Scottish Labour Party.

I made it clear that I didn’t want to do what had happened in the past – for a leader to depart and leave the party in crisis without doing the hard work to help set the organisation on an initial path back to recovery. Earlier today I submitted that plan to the Labour Party and now I also submit my resignation as leader of our party.

I will always love the Labour Party and all it stands for, for its many successes alongside its occasional foibles. Labour has been the most civilising political force in our nation’s history from the creation of institutions like the NHS and Scottish Parliament to policies such minimum wages, council housing and civil rights.

In the short time that it has been my pleasure to lead the party I have met so many wonderful people – the type of proud and principled supporters who want nothing from Labour other than success at elections and change in our country. For over a century, in good times and bad, our members and volunteers have sustained the idea of solidarity and the cause of Labour. Now, in the face of defeat north and south of the border, we are confronted with the task of rebuilding. We have all known for some time that Scottish Labour faced huge challenges. But we have been wrongly written off before but we will win again – of that I’m certain.

It will require new thinking, strengthened confidence and huge energy. I know that we have a generation of members and politicians who can lead the way. But it’s now time for me to take on fresh challenges. If asked, I will be a source of discreet advice for my successor and I will always be an active and faithful servant of the party that I have been a member of for more than half of my life. Any insights I offer to those who come after me will be offered with discretion and in private. As Nicola Sturgeon is learning, very little good comes from a leader who steps down but doesn’t know the art of discretion.

Finally I would like to thank you and the staff, members and volunteers of our party for your dedication to the cause of social justice.

Best wishes,

Jim Murphy