Labour’s only Scottish MP has confirmed he will stand to replace as the deputy leader of the UK party in the three-month contest, which starts today.
Ian Murray is putting himself forward for the post and says the party’s path back to power must “run through Scotland”.
Murray says he has a track record in beating the odds – from growing up in a council estate to going to
university, helping to save Hearts FC from extinction and defending his seat twice against a surging challenge.
Murray said: “To win again, will need to beat the odds, and they are stacked against us. But we can change them if we make the right choices and be honest with ourselves and the public.”
Murray’s announcement came as the confirmed the new leadership team will be announced at a special conference on April 4.
Labour supporters will have 48 hours to join the party as members next week and pay £25 for the privilege if they want to vote in the leadership election.
The fee and a 48-hour registration period are the same rules that applied in 2016, when faced a leadership challenge. At the time, about 120,000 people signed up and voted in the contest.
The NEC agreed an 11-week timetable for the contest to succeed Corbyn and Watson, giving candidates a week to secure nominations from .
A party spokeswoman said the postal ballot of members will run from February 21 to April 2.
The official added: “We are by far the largest political party in the UK with well over 500,000 members.
"We want as many of our members and supporters to take part, so it has been designed to be open, fair and democratic.”
Murray’s announcement followed the entry into the deputy leadership race of the favourite, shadow education secretary Angela Rayner, who said she was backing her friend for the leadership when she announces her candidacy.
Launching her campaign at an event in Stockport, said: “We must rethink and renew our purpose. Either we face up to these new times or we become irrelevant.”
She highlighted seats that had gone from “heartlands to battlegrounds” and where people have felt Labour had “lost touch with them”.
Rayner and Murray are expected to be challenged by shadow justice secretary and shadow sports minister Rosena Allin-Khan.
