Corbyn's right hand man in Scotland rules himself out of bid to replace Kez

Leftwinger and close Jeremy Corbyn ally, Neil Findlay, has categorically ruled himself out of the race.

There had been speculation that the Holyrood backbencher, who had run against Jim Murphy for the top job in 2014, would once again throw his hat in to the ring. 

READ MORE: Richard Leonard is 'likely' to run for Scottish Labour leadership position

This morning, Findlay moved to quash that speculation. In a statement the MSP said: “I will not be putting put my name forward in this election.

"I wish Kezia and those who may seek to succeed her the very best for the future and I look forward to Parliament returning next week so I can work with my colleagues to hold the SNP to account for their appalling mishandling of our public services, expose the Tories for their shambolic handling of the Brexit process and work towards returning Labour governments at Holyrood and Westminster that works for the many not the few”
 
Glasgow MSP and former MP Anas Sarwar is also believed to be interested in the job.

Last week the ambitious politican organised a meeting at Glasgow mosque for Corbyn's visit to Scotland. More than 1,000 people attended. 

While sources close to deputy leader Alex Rowley have told press that he too might be prepared to stand. With Dugdale's resignation effective immediately, the Fife politician became the interim leader of the party this morning, the twelfth person to lead Scottish Labour in Holyrood.

Richard Leonard, a former GMB organiser, and another left winger, is also being touted as a possible replacement. 

Dugdale’s announcement that she was standing down came late last night; she said it was in part to give her successor time to lead the party into the 2021 Holyrood elections.

Senior Labour sources were last night briefing that Dugdale, who’d supported Owen Smith in the last leadership election, and who’d criticised Corbyn in the past, had been “hounded out by JC’s mob”.

In an interview with BBC Scotland's political editor, Brian Taylor, Dugdale denied being pushed out, saying she had “thought long and hard about this.” 

“I care deeply about the Labour Party - I love it and I have devoted my adult life to serving it in a number of different capacities.,” she said.

"And I have just come to the conclusion that the best thing for it, the Labour Party, this precious, precious thing that has done so much good in our country, and indeed for me, is to pass that baton on."

Dugdale replaced Jim as Scottish Labour leader in August 2015, after the disastrous general election that saw her party lose all but one of their Westminster seats.

Under her leadership, Labour finished third in last year's Holyrood elections, but managed to win seven seats in June’s snap general election, far better than had been predicted.

Despite those wins, there had been criticism of Dugdale from the party’s left, with the Campaign For Socialism attacking her in their “helicopter view” of the election result.

They claimed she and the leadership still had a “Better Together mindset” and had focussed too much on challenging the SNP over independence. 

However, her reasons for quitting were, she said, more personal than anything else. 

In her resignation letter to Linda Stewart, the Chair of Scottish Labour, Dugdale said the death of her friend Gordon Aikman, who suffered from Motor Neuron Disease, and who died in February this year, had left her reassessing her priorities. 

“Earlier this year I lost a dear friend who taught me a lot about how to live. His terminal illness forced him to identify what he really wanted from life, how to make the most of it and how to make a difference. He taught me how precious and short life was and never to waste a moment,” she wrote. 

She added “I have given the task of achieving this all that I have. But with nearly four years now until the next Scottish Parliament elections, I am convinced that the party needs a new leader with fresh energy, drive and a new mandate to take the party into that contest.

“I will continue as a Labour MSP for the Lothians and am already looking forward to spending more time with constituents and on constituency issues.”

Corbyn thanked Dugdale for "the important role she has played in rebuilding the party in Scotland".

"Kezia became Scottish leader at one of the most difficult times in the history of the Scottish Labour Party, and the party's revival is now fully under way, with six new MPs and many more to come," he said.
"I want to thank Kez for her tireless service to our party and movement."

Scottish Labour's executive are to meet on September 9 to discuss the process for finding Dugdale's replacement.

Rowley said: “Under the leadership of Kezia Dugdale, the Scottish Labour Party is stronger and more united than it was when she took the job, we have a platform on which to build. On behalf of the party, I wish her well.”

Nicola Sturgeon took to Twitter to pay tribute: “We may be opponents, but @kezdugdale led her party with guts and determination and I admired her for that. I wish her well for the future.”

Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson also saluted her opponent: “Kezia deserves the thanks of her party for the tireless work she put in as leader of Scottish Labour.

READ MORE: Richard Leonard is 'likely' to run for Scottish Labour leadership position

“She was a tough and principled political opponent and, in challenging circumstances for her party, she showed huge determination and spirit.

“These last two years will be remembered as a time when all three of Scotland’s main political parties have been led by women, and all there on merit.

“Kezia did more than most as leader of Scottish Labour to ensure that, in future, such a thing is no longer deemed remarkable, or of note.

“I wish her well for the future.”