Scottish Labour ‘bounce-back’ has already begun, says Michael Marra

The “bounce-back” of Scottish Labour has already begun, the party’s new leader Michael Marra has said.

Mr Marra, the North East MSP, took charge just over a week ago after Scottish Labour recorded its worst-ever result at a Holyrood election in May. The party’s performance was blamed on former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and Labour’s wider strategy.

However, Mr Marra said Labour’s fortunes had begun to change with Andy Burnham’s installation as Prime Minister.

“I think the bounce-back has started already,” he said.

“Andy has had a really good start to his time in Number 10. People can see that he’s talking about those issues that really matter to them day-to-day. They feel that they’ve got a better relationship with him as a country.”

Mr Marra said he had made a “really strong start” in his new role and wanted to focus on child poverty and education in Scotland, while setting out what the Labour Party stood for in the long term.

“That’s going to be the keystone to rebuilding the Labour Party as a force in Scotland,” he said.

Speaking at the Liverpool conference, his first since becoming leader, Mr Marra described the event as “really upbeat and hopeful”. He highlighted plans for the re-industrialisation of the UK, investment, stronger workers’ rights, higher wages and improved economic performance.

Mr Marra said Scotland was “absolutely a priority” for Mr Burnham and that he had spoken to the Prime Minister shortly after becoming Scottish Labour leader.

“The first phone call I received as Scottish Labour leader was a conversation with the Prime Minister, I’m seeing him later today, we’re having those conversations constantly,” he said.

He added that he would meet members of Mr Burnham’s team over the following days and said they were “absolutely clear how important Scotland is to his future agenda for the whole of the UK”.