Anas Sarwar will today announce that he is standing to become the next leader of Scottish Labour.
The MSP is set to officially launch his campaign to succeed Richard Leonard tomorrow.
He has the support of several senior colleagues and believes he can turn the corner on years of decline ahead of May’s Holyrood elections.
Monica Lennon, the party’s health spokeswoman, has not ruled herself out and is deciding whether to launch a bid.
Labour’s Scottish Executive Committee ruling body yesterday approved a tight timetable which will see a new leader in place by the end of next month.
A source close to Sarwar said: “Anas believes he has the experience and the vision to unite the party and rebuild as an electoral force once again in Scotland.
“He has the support of a number of people within the party and will almost certainly launch his campaign officially on Monday.”
The leadership race comes after Leonard announced his resignation on Thursday.
If Sarwar wins, he would become the first Asian leader of a major political party in Scotland.
The 37-year-old former dentist and MP lost to Leonard in Scottish Labour’s leadership battle in 2017.
The son of former Glasgow Labour MP Mohammad Sarwar had been an early front-runner but faced controversy over his family’s wealth and children’s private education.
But Sarwar has retained a powerful position within the party and is believed to be the favoured candidate of UK leader Keir Starmer.
Lennon would pose the greatest threat should she put her name forward.
The 40-year-old campaigned for Scotland’s Period Poverty Bill.
She has the highest profile of her party’s
MSPs and has consistently held the Scottish Government to account over the pandemic.
A deadline for expressions of interest for the leadership will close today, with nominations from MSPs open from Monday until noon on Tuesday.
If more than one person is nominated, a ballot will open on February 9 and close on February 26.
Scottish Labour chairwoman Cara Hilton said: “The new leader will be announced on February 27 and will lead Scottish Labour into the election with a fresh energy to carry Labour’s message and take the fight to the Tories and the SNP.”
Leonard has retained the top spot on a regional list for Labour – a perk usually only given to the party leader.
Labour has selected Ged Killen to stand for Margaret Ferrier’s Westminster seat in the event of a by-election.
The 34-year-old held the Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency from 2017 until the 2019 general election, when Ferrier seized it for the SNP.
Ferrier is facing criminal proceedings after travelling to her home from London following a positive Covid test last year.
Killen said: “As we emerge from the pandemic, we need an MP who will be completely focused on fighting for the health, wellbeing and jobs of people in our constituency.”
