Outgoing Scottish Labour boss Richard Leonard will fight the Holyrood election in the top spot of his Central region, despite calls for men to “step aside” and let a female candidate take the lead.
His name was placed at the head of the local region as candidates jostled for a chance to get back into the Scottish Parliament in May.
Leonard’s top ranking in Central means Monica Lennon, who is challenging Anas Sarwar in the contest to lead the party, is in second place behind him.
In Glasgow, Sarwar comfortably won first place but agreed to step back to allow MSP Pauline McNeill to take first place.
Sarwar thanked supporters for selecting him and said: “We have a really strong Labour team going into this vital election.
"Our SEC encouraged candidates to follow the STUC’s Step Aside, Brother campaign to ensure that at least 50 per cent of our top candidates are women, and I want to lead by example so will be stepping aside from the top spot, meaning we can fulfil that ambition," he said.
"In truth, our party must do more in future to empower and encourage a greater diversity of candidates - in parliaments and council chambers."
The final rankings of the eight regions did, however, give Labour a 50/50 gender balance.
Lennon said: "I will work tirelessly over the coming months to put forward Scottish Labour’s positive vision to the electorate, holding the SNP to account and putting forward the case for how we can create a People’s Recovery in the aftermath of Covid-19.
"I am proud to be part of a strong team of Scottish Labour candidates for the forthcoming election."
Elsewhere, sitting MSP Rhoda Grant tops the Highlands and Islands region, Daniel Johnson is in first position in Lothian and Claire Baker leads in Mid Scotland and Fife.
Michael Marra ranked top in the North East where he hopes to enter parliament. MSPs Colin Smyth and Jackie Baillie top the lists in South Scotland and West Scotland respectively.
The plan to alternate between men and women in the ranks left some candidates higher or lower than they will have expected. In Glasgow, James Kelly MSP is now ranked fifth and in danger of losing his seat at parliament.
