THE Scottish Labour leadership race “reeks of misogyny and male entitlement”, the only female contender has said as she appeared to cast doubts on the fairness of the contest.
Monica Lennon, in a post on social media on Sunday morning, hit out at unnamed figures within her own party, alleging that “men expect a coronation or a ballot without women”.
Lennon is so far the only woman to have put herself forward to take over as Scottish Labour leader in the race triggered by the surprise resignation of Anas Sarwar, who had reneged on his pledges never to join the House of Lords.
Michael Marra – a close ally of Sarwar – is seen as the frontrunner and is alleged to have the party “machinery” behind him. Joe Fagan, a new MSP who formerly led South Lanarkshire Council, has also entered the race and reportedly has the support of Scottish Labour grandee Jackie Baillie.
In order to get on the final ballot, the contenders each need to secure the support of three Scottish Labour MSPs, three MPs, and three affiliated organisations, two of which must be trade unions.
Lennon is reportedly finding it difficult to secure the required number of MPs and MSPs to stand, with key left-wing allies such as Richard Leonard and Mercedes Villalba leaving parliament at the 2026 elections.
Allegations – which he has denied – have said that Marra has been talking to his MSP colleagues in a bid to convince them not to support Lennon in an effort to block her candidacy.
Katy Clark, another Scottish Labour MSP, is also said to have been considering a bid for the leadership, canvassing her parliamentary colleagues to see if she had the support needed.
In this context, Lennon wrote on social media on Sunday: “Scottish Labour is about to repeat the same mistakes. We can’t accuse others of cronyism if we operate like a private members’ club, placing personal and factional ties above principles and the country. We must debate big ideas, find our backbone and rediscover boldness.
“This ‘contest’ reeks of misogyny and male entitlement. That’s the road to nowhere.
“We’re not here for a social life or to win an occasional debate. We were created to win power for working class communities and lead in government, not from the gutter.
This ‘contest’ reeks of misogyny and male entitlement. That’s the road to nowhere. We’re not here for a social life or to win an occasional debate. We were created to win power for working class communities and lead in government, not from the gutter. https://t.co/IO4dLudrsq
— Monica Lennon (@MonicaLennon7) August 2, 2026
“The day after I declared my interests, I was on @BBCRadioScot encouraging others to step forward. I’ve never feared a contest; it’s necessary. Why do men expect a coronation or a ballot without women?
“I stand with @KatySClark and all women in our party.”
Scottish Labour MP Brian Leishman, who has backed Lennon's leadership bid, said he agreed with "every word" she's said.
However, Stephen McCabe, the Scottish Labour leader of Inverclyde Council, responded: "Is that because she cannot get two other MSPs, female or male, and three MPs, female or male, to nominate her?"
Elizabeth Carr-Ellis, who stood unsuccessfully for Scottish Labour in the 2026 Holyrood elections, said: "Been thinking all week about leadership contest and I want to hear what all the contenders say before deciding – but for that we need a full range of opinions. The idea we may have only two men on the ballot is not the Scottish Labour I want to see."
Lennon’s statement came after all three of the candidates laid out their stalls in articles for The Scotsman.
Fagan aimed a broadside at Sarwar over his Lords seat, Lennon argued that the Scottish Labour party needed to distance itself from its UK bosses, and Marra defended Sarwar’s leadership, arguing that the party’s decline was about more than “one bad result”.
Scottish Labour have been approached for comment.
