Dumbarton MSP Jackie Baillie has become the interim leader of Scottish Labour.
Richard Leonard stepped down as leader this afternoon saying he felt it was the right decision for himself and the party.
The Central Scotland MSP visited the Vale of Leven Hospital in March, just before lockdown where he threw his support behind the GP out-of-hours unit.
The following month, Jackie was named new deputy leader of Scottish Labour and will now take up the leadership role on an interim basis.
A statement from Richard Leonard said: “I have come to the conclusion it is in the best interests of the party that I step aside as leader of Scottish Labour with immediate effect.
“This was not an easy decision, but after three years I feel it is the right one for me and for the Party.
“I have thought long and hard over the Christmas period about what this crisis means, and the approach Scottish Labour takes to help tackle it. I have also considered what the speculation about my leadership does to our ability to get Labour’s message across. This has become a distraction.”
