Scottish Labour leader candidate Marra open to party deals at local elections

Scottish Labour leader candidate Marra open to party deals at local electionsHowever, Michael Marra has said he would not accept any deals with Reform Scotland.Scottish Labour leadership candidate Michael Marra has said he would be prepared to do deals with other parties (Rachel Keenan/PA)

Scottish Labour party leadership candidate Michael Marra has said he would be open to deals with other parties in the Scottish local elections next year.

Mr Marra is taking on fellow MSP, and former South Lanarkshire Council leader, Joe Fagan, to replace Anas Sarwar after he was sent to the House of Lords and made a UK minister.

If Mr Marra was to win the leadership contest he would lead the party through the Scottish local elections in May 2027.

Speaking to the Press Association in Glasgow on Monday, the North East region MSP said Scottish Labour would want to work with other parties at the elections to “make sure that we lock out Reform from the halls of power in Scotland”.

MSPs Michael Marra, left, and Joe Fagan are competing in the Scottish Labour leadership contest (Jane Barlow/PA)PA Wire

He continued: “Because all they bring is division, distrust and a brand, I think, of right wing populism that is actually a challenge to the soul of our country.

“That’s not something the Scottish Labour Party will accept. It’s what we’ve always fought against, and we’re going to be on the front lines fighting against them this time round, too.”

Reform Scotland secured 17 MSPs in the Scottish Parliament elections in May while Scottish Labour lost four seats, returning with 17 MSPs meaning the parties are joint opposition to the SNP.

However, Mr Marra said Scottish Labour would not be making any deals with Reform in the future but did not rule out working with other parties.

Reform UK Scotland leader Malcolm Offord, left, and deputy Thomas Kerr (Jane Barlow/PA)PA Wire

He continued: “I think we have to recognise that Scottish politics has changed; that we have a very fractured polity, lots of different parties competing for space and a voice.

“The days of two-party politics are long in the past in Scotland so we have to make sure that we are able to speak to parties. But I’ve been clear on that, I don’t want to see deals with Reform. I don’t think that’s acceptable.

“I think that what they bring to the table is anathema to the values of the Labour Party.

“We do know that there’s lots of people who have voted Reform who previously voted for lots of different parties, and we need to make the case to them that, actually, change can happen in Scotland without finding enemies and without the corruption of Reform and Nigel Farage and all that he brings.

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“We have to make that case to them but I don’t believe that Reform are legitimate partners in a project of trying to improve the lives of the people of Scotland.”

David Smith, Reform UK MSP for West Scotland, said: “It appears Mr Marra is trying to portray himself as a Smart Price Keir Starmer.

“He can focus on petty, backroom politics all he wants, but Reform will continue to focus on the day-to-day responsibilities of standing up for hardworking Scots and holding the SNP to account.

“Reform UK are now the largest Unionist Party within Scotland, and no one is taking any notice whatsoever of what anyone in Labour have to say.

“Labelling Reform as far-right populists only shows Mr Marra up as a continuity candidate that’s part of the problem, not part of any solution.

“Maybe he’s found one of Anas Sawar’s old notebooks in one of the Labour offices.”