ANAS Sarwar was last night the early frontrunner in the Scottish Labour leadership contest after announcing he had already received the backing of 13 of the party’s 24 parliamentarians.

The Glasgow MSP, who is the party’s constitution spokesperson, unveiled his intention to stand in the contest on Saturday and yesterday also announced the shopworkers’ trade union Usdaw, as well as more than 70 councillors, support his bid.

He is challenged by Monica Lennon, the party’s health spokesperson, who revealed her intention to stand for the post late on Sunday evening.

She has won cross-party backing in Holyrood for successfully pioneering legislation to provide free period products and address the issue of period poverty. Lennon is seen by some as the candidate better able to unite different sides of the party which is divided over the constitution and a second independence referendum.

Sarwar has insisted he is the “candidate best placed to help rebuild the Scottish Labour Party, to transform us into a credible opposition and a party that is fit for the future”.

Sarwar will focus on rebuilding the party and country, ensuring there is a “Covid Recovery Parliament” prioritising jobs and the NHS.

“I’m honoured to have the backing of Usdaw and would like to thank all the parliamentarians, councillors, members and trade unionists who are supporting my campaign,” he said.

“I am determined to rebuild our party and the Labour movement, so that we can rebuild Scotland for everyone.

“Over the coming weeks I will be putting my vision to members and I’m looking forward to a friendly and positive campaign that demonstrates the very best of our movement. More than ever, our party and our country needs political leadership that will bring people together.”

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Stewart Forrest, Usdaw divisional officer, said: “Usdaw members, their families and working people across Scotland need a strong Labour Party in the Scottish Parliament and across the country, speaking out for them on their issues.

“With the election coming in May, it is crucial that Scottish Labour has a leader who can hit the ground running, bring the party together and put a positive message to the country. We believe that Anas Sarwar is the right person to do that and take us forward.”

Under the timetable set out by the party on Saturday, the deadline for expressions of interest in standing for the contest closed at midnighton Sunday.

Voting in the leadership contest will open on Tuesday, February 9, and run till Friday, February 26, with the winner announced at a special online event on Saturday, February 27.

Online hustings are expected to take place before the ballot opens.

Malcolm Cunning, the Labour group leader on Glasgow city council, Elaine Murray, the former Labour MSP and now leader of Dumfries and Galloway Council, and former MSP and Glasgow city councillor Frank McAveety, are among those who are backing Sarwar.

The contest follows the sudden resignation last Thursday of Richard Leonard, who was the party’s ninth leader since 1999.

Leonard, who remains an MSP for Central Scotland, said ongoing speculation about his leadership was impending the party’s ability to get its message across.

He had seen off an attempted coup in September by a group of MSPs unhappy about his leadership and at the time insisted he would lead the party into the Holyrood elections, due in May.

However, last week it emerged UK party leader Sir Keir Starmer told senior party figures, including Leonard’s deputy Jackie Baillie, in a Zoom call on Wednesday he no longer had confidence in Leonard.

Labour has suffered a series of disastrous election results, losing six of its seven Scottish MPs in the 2019 General Election, though polling last week suggested it was just ahead of the Tories and could return to second place in Holyrood after the May elections.