Labour Leadership Rivals Claim Most Support

Two of the candidates to become Scottish Labour leader are claiming they have the party's backing.

Former Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy's attracted the largest number of parliamentary nominations, as well as from 34 Constituency Labour Parties and 100 local councillors.

This represents almost two thirds of CLPs voting and more than half of local councillors voting. 

This comes on the back of supporting nominations from the trade unions Usdaw and Community, as well as Scottish Young Labour and Scottish Labour Students.

But unions still have a major say in this ballot Scotland, with members getting more than one vote.

MSP Neil Findlay received the backing of nine trade unions including all of the Scottish labour party’s largest affiliates, as well as of 20 Constituency Labour Parties.

Lothian MSP Sarah Boyack is also standing.

Jim Murphy is "honoured to receive the support of Labour Party members in every part of Scotland. 

He said: "From Shetland to Dumfries, and from Ayrshire to the Lothians, local Labour members and councillors back my vision for bringing the Scottish Labour Party and Scotland together again.

“The nominating period has confirmed that I can unite our party in Parliament and in the country.

“The days of infighting and back-biting in the Scottish Labour Party are over. If I am elected leader the Scottish Labour Party will come together with a positive vision for Scotland.”

Neil Findlay said he's "delighted to recieve such widespread support."

He said: "Given that I was late into the race and starting from scratch its particularly encouraging that so many of the larger constituency Labour parties are backing my candidacy.

"It's good that the policies I'm putting forward are getting such a positive response.

 "The overwhelming backing from trade unions representing all walks of life is particularly encouraging given Labour’s need to reconnect with people"