The 2020 Scottish Labour deputy leadership election was triggered on 16 December 2019 following the defeat of Lesley Laird as MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath in the 2019 general election.[1] The result of the Deputy Leadership Election was announced on Twitter on 3 April 2020.[2]
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Background
editThe 2019 United Kingdom general election saw the Scottish National Party (SNP) regain 13 of the 21 seats they lost in 2017. One of those won was Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath, the seat of Scottish Labour Deputy Leader and Shadow Scottish Secretary, Lesley Laird. Despite the seat being a gain for the SNP, the new MP, Neale Hanvey sat as an Independent until May 2020 due to an investigation into anti-semitic posts online.[3][4][5]
Procedure
editAs with the previous leadership election, the election was held under one-person-one-vote from an electorate of members, affiliated supporters and registered supporters.
Leadership candidates needed to be an MP, MSP or MEP, and need the support of at least 15%, or five, of the thirty-two Scottish Labour MPs, MSPs. They will also need nominations from 5% of local parties or three affiliates, including two trade unions, comprising 5% of affiliated membership, to get on the ballot paper.
Timetable
edit| 13 January | Nominations open |
| 14 January | Registered supporters applications open |
| 16 January | Registered supporters applications close |
| 19 January | Nominations closed |
| 20 January | Opening of CLP and affiliate nominations. Scottish Labour Party hustings period open. Freeze date for membership and supporter eligibility at 5PM |
| 3 February | Last day for affiliates to send over new and updated affiliated supporter lists |
| 14 February | Close of CLP and affiliate nominations and last day for membership to be in full compliance (including full payment of arrears). |
| 21 February | Voting opens |
| 27 February | Last date for postal ballot reissues |
| 30 March | Last date for email ballot reissues |
| 2 April | Ballot closes (12PM) |
| 3 April | Announcement of results |
Campaign
editInitially Jackie Baillie and fellow MSP Pauline McNeill were planning to run on a platform of job-sharing the role.[7] However, it was found that this would not be possible due to the party's constitution.[8] Pauline McNeill and Baillie subsequently stood separately in the election.
Following the close of nominations on 19 January, Dundee Councillor Michael Marra did not receive sufficient nominations to advance to the next round of the campaign.[9] The same day, McNeill announced that she would also withdraw from the contest, leaving a two way campaign between Baillie and Matt Kerr.[10]
Kerr has been described as left-wing, having strong ties with the trade union movement, and being a supporter of Jeremy Corbyn.[11] Kerr supports the devolution of trade union and employment law, inclusive Constituency Labour Parties (CLP's) that are rooted in communities, open selections, and the creation of an accredited political academy to help develop new political talent.[12]
Candidates
edit| Candidate | Political roles | Nominations from MSPs, MPs and Cllrs[13] | Supporting nominations from Constituency Labour Parties[14] | Supporting nominations from affiliated Trade Unions, Groups and Socialist Societies[14] | Endorsements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackie Baillie[10] | MSP for Dumbarton (since 1999) |
60 Nominations
|
40 Nominations
|
8 Nominations
|
Endorsements |
| Matt Kerr[10] | Councillor for Cardonald (previously Craigton) (since 2007) |
33 Nominations[15]
|
26 Nominations
|
8 Nominations
|
Endorsements
|
† CLPs not nominating any candidate:
The following seven constituencies remain unaccounted for:
Results
edit| Candidate | Party members | Registered supporters | Affiliated supporters | Total[20] | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | Votes | % | |||
| Jackie Baillie | 7,735 | 58.9% | 323 | 77.6% | 2,253 | 52.5% | 10,311 | 57.8% | ||
| Matt Kerr | 5,398 | 41.1% | 93 | 22.4% | 2,037 | 47.5% | 7,528 | 42.2% | ||
References
edit- ^ "Lesley Laird stands down as Scottish Labour deputy". BBC News. 16 December 2019.
- ^ Labour, Scottish (3 April 2020). "Congratulations to @jackiebmsp on being elected Scottish Labour deputy leader.pic.twitter.com/EfbhhDUsCE". @scottishlabour. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
- ^ Carrell, Severin (28 November 2019). "SNP suspends election candidate over alleged antisemitism". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
- ^ "Election 2019: SNP candidate axed over anti-Semitic posts elected". BBC News. 13 December 2019. Retrieved 28 January 2020.
- ^ Press Association (3 March 2020). "SNP to readmit MP after anti-Semitism probe, reports say". The Courier. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
- ^ "Deputy Leadership Election". Scottish Labour.
- ^ Hutcheon, Paul (15 January 2020). "Senior MSPs make bid for 'job sharing' Scottish Labour leadership". dailyrecord.co.uk.
- ^ Hutcheon, Paul (15 January 2020). "Scottish Labour rule out plan for two MSPs to job share deputy leadership role". dailyrecord.co.uk.
- ^ "Three enter next stage of Scottish Labour's deputy leader race". LabourList. 19 January 2020.
- ^ a b c "Two candidates left in Scots Labour deputy leader race". BBC News. 20 January 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2020.
- ^ Hutcheon, Paul (16 January 2020). "Left wing Glasgow councillor joins race to become Scottish Labour deputy leader". Daily Record. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
- ^ Kerr, Matt. "A FRESH FUTURE FOR SCOTTISH LABOUR" (PDF). Matt Kerr for Scottish Labour deputy leader. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
- ^ "2020 Deputy Leadership Election Hub". Scottish Labour.
- ^ a b "Deputy Leadership Election Hub". Scottish Labour.
- ^ "Deputy Leadership 2020 Cllr Matt Kerr". Scottish Labour (official website). Retrieved 12 March 2020.
- ^ @ScotsLabStudent (28 January 2020). "Delegates from our affiliated clubs voted to endorse @MattKerrLabour to be Deputy Leader of the Scottish Labour Party at our EGM on Saturday!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ "TSSA Nominates Matt Kerr in Scottish Labour Deputy Race". Transport Salaried Staffs' Association. 14 February 2020. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
- ^ Cullinane, Joe (10 February 2020). "Scottish Labour must change, and that's why we should pick Matt Kerr for deputy". LabourList. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
- ^ @MattKerrLabour (11 March 2020). "Thank you to Maria Fyfe, for her support in my campaign to become the next Deputy Leader of the Scottish Labour Party! #Matt4Deputy" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ https://scottishlabour.org.uk/people/deputy-leadership/ [permanent dead link]
External links
edit- 2020 Deputy Leadership Election Hub on Scottish Labour's official website